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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. club — for dancing
  7. stock — goods
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. club — for golf
  12. sharp — clever
  13. stock — shares
  14. fall — to drop
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bank — for money
  17. club — a group
  18. bank — for money
  19. fall — to drop
  20. bank — of a river
  21. toast — bread
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. fall — the season

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