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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. squash — to crush
  4. stock — shares
  5. bore — to tire
  6. swing — music
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. stock — goods
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. swing — to play on
  15. squash — the sport
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. bore — to drill
  19. deal — to handle
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. safe — out of danger

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