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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 120 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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. row — to paddle
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — music
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. row — a line
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. stock — shares
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bowl — a football final

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