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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. cue — for pool
  3. cue — a signal
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stock — goods
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. club — a group
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pass — a permit
  10. club — for dancing
  11. hand — in cards
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. cue — a hint
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stock — shares
  20. pitch — completely
  21. club — for golf
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. hand — help
  24. safe — a strongbox

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