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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mark — a trace
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stock — shares
  6. rock — a stone
  7. chest — a box
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. prune — to trim
  16. chest — of your body
  17. prune — to trim
  18. chest — of your body
  19. stand — to bear
  20. bark — to shout
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. stock — goods
  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