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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — a tin
  3. stock — goods
  4. stock — shares
  5. bound — tied together
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. club — for dancing
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. club — a group
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bound — certain
  13. bound — obliged
  14. game — a match
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. board — to get on
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. can — to be able to
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. board — a committee
  22. sharp — clever
  23. game — wild animals
  24. club — for golf

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