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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. stock — goods
  5. firm — steady
  6. branch — a division
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. tube — the underground
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. tube — a container
  14. stock — shares
  15. band — a ring
  16. spell — a short time
  17. spell — letters
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. spell — magic
  20. band — a music group
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. firm — a company
  24. nail — for a hammer

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