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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. stock — goods
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. stock — shares
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. mug — a face
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. key — in music
  11. mug — to rob
  12. stand — to bear
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. board — to get on
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — for a lock
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. fine — high quality
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. mug — a cup
  24. board — a committee

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