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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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. firm — a company
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. spring — the season
  8. stock — shares
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. capital — a city
  13. spring — of water
  14. stock — goods
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. capital — a big letter
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. board — to get on
  20. firm — steady
  21. board — a committee
  22. spring — a coil
  23. plane — a tool
  24. firm — decided

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