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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 116 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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  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. wound — an injury
  2. stock — shares
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mug — a face
  5. wound — an injury
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. board — a committee
  8. squash — to crush
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. stock — goods
  13. mug — to rob
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. squash — the sport
  16. can — to be able to
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. can — a tin
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. can — a tin
  21. board — to get on
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  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