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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. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. can — a tin
  5. bound — obliged
  6. stock — goods
  7. stock — shares
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. deal — to handle
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. can — a tin
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. bound — tied together
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. bound — certain
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. can — to be able to
  23. toast — bread
  24. deal — an agreement

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