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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. spring — a coil
  6. kick — in football
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. mug — to rob
  10. spring — the season
  11. mine — for digging
  12. stock — goods
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stock — shares
  17. rule — government
  18. stand — to bear
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. spring — of water
  23. rule — a law
  24. mug — a face

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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