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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The water is too ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. fine — high quality
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. cold — not warm
  5. suit — to fit
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. suit — in cards
  9. cold — the Cold War
  10. suit — clothes
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. can — to be able to
  13. stock — goods
  14. can — a tin
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. stock — shares
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. bore — to drill
  19. can — a tin
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. cold — an illness
  22. bore — to tire
  23. foot — a measure
  24. fine — all right

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