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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stock — goods
  7. season — of the year
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. mark — a trace
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. roll — a cake
  17. rock — a stone
  18. mark — a grade
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. roll — a list
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. vault — a safe
  23. rock — music
  24. stock — shares

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