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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. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. stock — goods
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. cell — a phone
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. charge — in control
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. charge — electricity
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. charge — a price
  16. suit — to fit
  17. prune — to trim
  18. mine — for digging
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. prune — to trim
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. suit — in cards
  23. suit — clothes
  24. cell — in biology

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