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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. stock — shares
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. mug — to rob
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. mug — a face
  12. pass — a permit
  13. stock — goods
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. object — to protest
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. object — a thing
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. mug — a cup
  23. snap — to click
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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