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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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. object — to protest
  3. ball — a great time
  4. file — a document
  5. stock — shares
  6. stock — goods
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. file — a line of people
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. key — in music
  11. ball — a dance
  12. file — a tool
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. chip — for betting
  15. key — for a lock
  16. object — a thing
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. key — the most important part
  19. chip — to eat
  20. object — an aim
  21. rush — hurry
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. stock — a soup base

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