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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. stand — to bear
  3. track — a song
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. suit — in cards
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. object — a thing
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. suit — clothes
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. object — an aim
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. stock — goods
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. suit — to fit
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. stock — shares
  20. track — a path
  21. rash — hasty
  22. track — to keep track
  23. rash — a series
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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