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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. stock — goods
  3. staff — employees
  4. face — to confront
  5. mark — a grade
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. staff — employees
  8. stock — shares
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. bank — for money
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. bank — for money
  13. face — to point toward
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. face — part of the head
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. stand — to bear
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. bank — of a river
  22. mark — a trace
  23. rash — hasty
  24. staff — a stick

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