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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. ground — the earth
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. bass — the fish
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. ground — crushed
  7. fine — all right
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. lie — to recline
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. stock — shares
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. bass — low music
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. stock — goods
  24. ground — a position

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