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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 116 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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. rock — a stone
  3. plane — a tool
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. content — the amount
  7. deal — to handle
  8. content — happy
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. stock — goods
  13. stock — shares
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. press — a publisher
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. press — newspapers
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. press — to push
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. safe — out of danger

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