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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. stock — shares
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. hand — help
  7. firm — decided
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. firm — a company
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. rush — hurry
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. hand — in cards
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. firm — steady
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stock — goods

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