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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. craft — boats
  7. toast — bread
  8. content — happy
  9. craft — a skill
  10. stock — shares
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. stock — goods
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. plane — a tool
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. content — the amount
  24. content — videos and posts

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