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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. stock — goods
  5. lie — to recline
  6. lean — to bend
  7. firm — steady
  8. spring — of water
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. firm — decided
  14. spring — the season
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. spring — a coil
  17. stock — shares
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. firm — a company
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. snap — to click
  24. lean — thin

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