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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  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. mate — a friend
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. stock — shares
  5. mate — to breed
  6. wind — moving air
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. bound — certain
  9. stock — goods
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bound — obliged
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. deal — to handle
  16. wind — moving air
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. bound — tied together
  20. toast — bread
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. mate — a partner
  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