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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. ball — a great time
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bank — for money
  6. ball — a dance
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. stock — goods
  9. mate — a friend
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bank — of a river
  12. rock — music
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. saw — the tool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. stock — shares
  17. rock — a stone
  18. bank — for money
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mate — to breed
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rest — a break

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