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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mark — a trace
  5. season — of the year
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. mug — to rob
  10. stock — goods
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. mug — a face
  15. saw — the tool
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. stock — shares
  20. toast — bread
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. saw — the tool
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. coach — a trainer

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