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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. can — a tin
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. can — a tin
  5. stock — goods
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — a short time
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. stock — shares
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. foot — a measure
  19. deal — to handle
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. bear — the animal
  23. spell — letters
  24. bear — the animal

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