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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. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. degree — temperature
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. degree — an amount
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. content — the amount
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. content — happy
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. stock — goods
  19. snap — to click
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. degree — from a university
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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