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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. track — a song
  3. face — to confront
  4. face — part of the head
  5. mate — to breed
  6. track — a path
  7. mate — a partner
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — music
  10. mate — a friend
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. suit — in cards
  13. can — to be able to
  14. stock — shares
  15. suit — clothes
  16. stock — goods
  17. track — to keep track
  18. can — a tin
  19. face — to point toward
  20. saw — the tool
  21. suit — to fit
  22. can — a tin
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. stock — a soup base

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