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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. fine — high quality
  3. stock — goods
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. stock — shares
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. row — to paddle
  9. fine — all right
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. ground — a position
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. ground — crushed
  16. row — a line
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. prune — to trim
  19. prune — to trim
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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