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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. drill — the tool
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. suit — in cards
  6. drill — a practice
  7. chip — for betting
  8. suit — clothes
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. rock — music
  14. stock — goods
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. wind — to turn a key
  17. wind — moving air
  18. wind — moving air
  19. drill — army training
  20. stock — shares
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. suit — to fit
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. chip — to eat

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