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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 116 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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stock — shares
  4. pop — to visit
  5. content — the amount
  6. spell — a short time
  7. can — a tin
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. can — a tin
  10. band — a ring
  11. pop — soda
  12. pop — music
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. spell — magic
  15. stand — to bear
  16. cell — a phone
  17. stock — goods
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. content — happy
  20. spell — letters
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. band — a music group
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. can — to be able to

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