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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. stock — shares
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. cap — of ice
  8. bear — the animal
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. bear — the animal
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. mark — a grade
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. stock — goods
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. fork — in a road
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. cap — a hat
  23. cap — a lid
  24. fork — to eat with

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