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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. fine — high quality
  3. spring — of water
  4. bear — the animal
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bore — to tire
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. bore — to drill
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. foot — a measure
  14. stock — goods
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. spring — a coil
  17. fine — all right
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. stock — shares
  20. spring — the season
  21. bear — the animal
  22. rest — what's left
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. rest — a break

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