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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. dip — to sink
  3. mark — a trace
  4. craft — a skill
  5. stock — goods
  6. mark — a grade
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. firm — steady
  10. rush — hurry
  11. cap — a hat
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. firm — a company
  14. stock — shares
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. craft — boats
  18. cap — a lid
  19. cap — of ice
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. firm — decided
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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