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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. stock — shares
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. mug — a face
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. can — a tin
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. march — the month
  12. march — the month
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mine — for digging
  15. suit — to fit
  16. march — music
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. stock — goods

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