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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 124 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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. rock — music
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. rock — a stone
  9. file — a tool
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. file — a line of people
  12. file — a document
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. stock — shares
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. charge — in control
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. charge — electricity
  22. charge — a price
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. safe — out of danger

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