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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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. present — there
  3. stock — goods
  4. firm — a company
  5. net — in sport
  6. pitch — completely
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. fine — high quality
  9. stock — shares
  10. present — a gift
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. firm — steady
  13. craft — boats
  14. net — for catching
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. present — the time now
  19. fine — all right
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. net — after costs
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. firm — decided

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