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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 116 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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. rock — a stone
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. stock — shares
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. rash — hasty
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. stock — goods
  18. rash — a series
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. rock — music
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. racket — for tennis

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