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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. bark — to shout
  4. object — an aim
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. staff — a stick
  7. staff — employees
  8. object — to protest
  9. chip — for betting
  10. staff — employees
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bound — obliged
  13. rock — a stone
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bound — certain
  18. chip — to eat
  19. stock — shares
  20. rock — music
  21. ball — a great time
  22. object — a thing
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. stock — goods

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