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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 120 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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. stock — goods
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. mark — a grade
  5. fork — in a road
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. lie — to recline
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mark — a trace
  17. stock — shares
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. squash — the sport
  24. fork — to eat with

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