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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. swing — in golf
  3. bore — to drill
  4. stock — shares
  5. swing — to play on
  6. stand — to bear
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. roll — a cake
  9. clip — to cut
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. clip — a video
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. roll — a list
  17. season — in sport
  18. clip — for paper
  19. season — of the year
  20. bore — to tire
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. key — for a lock
  23. stock — goods
  24. key — in music

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