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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. stock — goods
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. pop — music
  11. rock — a stone
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. pop — soda
  16. pop — to visit
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stock — shares
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rock — music

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