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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 ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — a trace
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. suit — in cards
  9. net — in sport
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. suit — to fit
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. stock — goods
  14. net — after costs
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. suit — clothes
  19. net — for catching
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. snap — to click
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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