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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. fine — all right
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. stock — shares
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. club — a group
  8. can — a tin
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. can — a tin
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. club — for golf
  13. club — for dancing
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. stand — to bear
  16. mate — to breed
  17. fine — high quality
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. mate — a partner
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bound — certain
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bound — obliged
  24. stock — goods

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