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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. stock — goods
  4. firm — steady
  5. firm — decided
  6. stock — shares
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. firm — a company
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bass — low music
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. lie — to recline
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. rock — music
  15. bass — the fish
  16. toast — bread
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. rock — a stone
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. racket — for tennis

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