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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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. drill — army training
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. mug — to rob
  6. rock — a stone
  7. tube — the underground
  8. chair — a leader
  9. mug — a cup
  10. drill — the tool
  11. drill — a practice
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. mug — a face
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. stock — shares
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. rock — music
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. tube — a container
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. safe — out of danger

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