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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. stock — shares
  4. stock — goods
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. branch — a division
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. rock — a stone
  10. mug — to rob
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. rock — music
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. present — there
  17. saw — the tool
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mug — a face
  21. saw — the tool
  22. present — a gift
  23. mug — a cup
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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