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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. object — an aim
  3. fine — high quality
  4. stock — goods
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. bound — obliged
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. suit — to fit
  9. suit — in cards
  10. ground — crushed
  11. object — a thing
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. ground — the earth
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. suit — clothes
  18. object — to protest
  19. ground — a position
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. bound — certain
  22. bound — tied together
  23. stock — shares
  24. fine — all right

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