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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. swing — to play on
  3. stock — shares
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. stock — goods
  6. mug — a cup
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. charge — a price
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. charge — in control
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. swing — music
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. lean — thin
  16. roll — a cake
  17. lean — to bend
  18. roll — a list
  19. mug — to rob
  20. vault — a safe
  21. charge — electricity
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. swing — in golf

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