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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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. roll — a list
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. chip — for betting
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. ground — the earth
  8. chip — to eat
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. fall — to drop
  11. ground — crushed
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. key — in music
  14. key — for a lock
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. ground — a position
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. key — the most important part
  19. fall — the season
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. stock — shares
  22. foot — a measure
  23. fall — to drop
  24. roll — a cake

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