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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. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. firm — decided
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. club — for dancing
  5. firm — steady
  6. cap — a lid
  7. deal — to handle
  8. cap — of ice
  9. firm — a company
  10. stock — shares
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. club — a group
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. stock — goods
  22. rush — hurry
  23. cap — a hat
  24. deal — an agreement

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