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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. stock — goods
  4. can — a tin
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. stock — shares
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. mug — a face
  12. bass — low music
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a cup
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. temple — a place of worship

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