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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. stock — goods
  3. cue — a hint
  4. suit — clothes
  5. suit — to fit
  6. cue — a signal
  7. stock — shares
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. bass — low music
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. suit — in cards
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. bass — the fish
  18. cue — for pool
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. wound — an injury
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. safe — out of danger

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