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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 120 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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. rest — a break
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stock — shares
  5. key — in music
  6. net — for catching
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. stock — goods
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. drill — the tool
  11. rest — what's left
  12. net — after costs
  13. net — in sport
  14. key — for a lock
  15. press — a publisher
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. press — newspapers
  18. press — to push
  19. key — the most important part
  20. drill — a practice
  21. rest — what's left
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. stand — to bear
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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