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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 120 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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. firm — decided
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. rush — hurry
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. wound — an injury
  7. firm — a company
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. stock — shares
  10. firm — steady
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. press — to push
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. press — newspapers
  17. stock — goods
  18. wound — an injury
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. press — a publisher
  24. bowl — to roll

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