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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bore — to drill
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stock — shares
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. cue — for pool
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. bore — to tire
  15. cue — a hint
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. stock — goods
  19. lean — thin
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. foot — a measure
  22. lean — to bend
  23. cue — a signal
  24. bore — gave birth

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