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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 116 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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. stock — goods
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. can — a tin
  5. fine — high quality
  6. fall — to drop
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. net — after costs
  11. fall — the season
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — a stone
  14. stock — shares
  15. net — in sport
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. fall — to drop
  18. net — for catching
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. fine — all right
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. rock — music
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. can — a tin

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