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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. deal — to handle
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. stock — shares
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. stock — goods
  10. kick — in football
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. suit — to fit
  13. object — a thing
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. object — an aim
  17. rock — a stone
  18. branch — a division
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. suit — in cards
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. suit — clothes
  24. rock — music

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