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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 have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. spell — letters
  4. fine — high quality
  5. suit — to fit
  6. suit — clothes
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. stock — shares
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. toast — bread
  12. fine — all right
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. court — of a king
  15. spell — magic
  16. spell — a short time
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. court — of law
  22. court — for sport
  23. stock — goods
  24. stock — a soup base

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