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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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. stock — shares
  4. suit — clothes
  5. key — for a lock
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. perch — the fish
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. suit — to fit
  13. lean — thin
  14. key — in music
  15. wax — to grow
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. snap — to click
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. lean — to bend
  23. key — the most important part
  24. suit — in cards

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