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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. spring — a coil
  6. stock — goods
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. rock — music
  9. charge — in control
  10. spring — the season
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. stand — to bear
  13. charge — electricity
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. spring — of water
  16. dip — to sink
  17. mark — a trace
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. foot — a measure
  20. rock — a stone
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. stock — shares
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. charge — a price

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