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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. can — a tin
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. stock — shares
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rest — a break
  9. chair — a leader
  10. rest — what's left
  11. board — a committee
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. can — to be able to
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. can — a tin
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. board — to get on
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. pass — a permit
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. stock — goods

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