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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. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. stock — goods
  3. file — a line of people
  4. season — in sport
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. bound — tied together
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. stock — shares
  9. bound — obliged
  10. firm — a company
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. file — a document
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. firm — decided
  15. firm — steady
  16. season — of the year
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. bound — certain
  21. hand — in cards
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. hand — help

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