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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  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. fine — a penalty
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. stock — shares
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. rush — hurry
  7. stock — goods
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bound — obliged
  13. plane — a tool
  14. fine — all right
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bound — certain
  19. fine — high quality
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bound — tied together
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. plane — in geometry
  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