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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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. content — the amount
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. toast — bread
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. stock — shares
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. deal — to handle
  16. snap — to click
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. content — happy
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. stock — a soup base

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