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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. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. stock — goods
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. stock — shares
  8. board — a committee
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. board — to get on
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. rest — what's left
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. sharp — clever
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. coach — a trainer

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