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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 is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. ground — the earth
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. lean — to bend
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. stand — to bear
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. deal — to handle
  11. pass — a permit
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. stock — goods
  14. dip — to sink
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. stock — shares
  18. ground — crushed
  19. rock — a stone
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. ground — a position
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. rock — music

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