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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 120 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. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. mark — a grade
  3. track — a song
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. tube — the underground
  6. tube — a container
  7. track — to keep track
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. stock — shares
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. rule — a law
  15. cue — a hint
  16. pit — a hole
  17. rule — to rule out
  18. cue — for pool
  19. stock — goods
  20. pit — in a race
  21. track — a path
  22. mark — a trace
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. cue — a signal

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