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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. charge — a price
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. mug — to rob
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. pass — a permit
  11. roll — a list
  12. stock — shares
  13. stock — goods
  14. mug — a face
  15. roll — a cake
  16. branch — a division
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. charge — in control
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. fork — in a road
  22. toast — bread
  23. mug — a cup
  24. charge — electricity

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