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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. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. can — a tin
  3. lean — to bend
  4. land — ground
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. land — a country
  9. can — to be able to
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. land — to come down
  12. stock — goods
  13. face — part of the head
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. can — a tin
  16. face — to confront
  17. face — to point toward
  18. stand — to bear
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. lean — thin
  21. fine — all right
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. fine — high quality

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