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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've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. rest — a break
  3. lean — thin
  4. season — in sport
  5. mug — a face
  6. rest — what's left
  7. stock — goods
  8. season — of the year
  9. spell — magic
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. lean — to bend
  13. rest — what's left
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mug — to rob
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. stock — shares
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. sharp — clever
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. spell — letters

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