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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. ball — a dance
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. fine — all right
  7. suit — clothes
  8. stock — goods
  9. club — for golf
  10. suit — to fit
  11. ball — a great time
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. fine — high quality
  15. stock — shares
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. pass — a permit
  18. club — a group
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. club — for dancing
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. suit — in cards
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. ball — a round shape

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com