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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stock — shares
  3. tube — the underground
  4. perch — the fish
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bore — to drill
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. tube — a container
  19. pass — a permit
  20. stock — goods
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. bore — to tire
  24. rush — hurry

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