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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  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. stock — a soup base
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. face — part of the head
  4. pitch — completely
  5. stock — shares
  6. wake — a trail
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. mark — a grade
  9. ball — a great time
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. can — to be able to
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. face — to point toward
  15. cue — for pool
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. cue — a hint
  19. mark — a trace
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. ball — a dance
  22. cue — a signal
  23. face — to confront
  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