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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. suit — to fit
  3. drill — army training
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. content — happy
  8. stock — shares
  9. content — the amount
  10. plane — a tool
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stock — goods
  13. suit — clothes
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. suit — in cards
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. key — for a lock
  20. rock — a stone
  21. drill — the tool
  22. key — in music
  23. rock — music
  24. key — the most important part

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