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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — a grade
  3. club — for golf
  4. club — for dancing
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. stock — goods
  7. pop — to visit
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. pop — soda
  10. squash — to crush
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. stock — shares
  13. fine — high quality
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. lie — to recline
  16. charge — a price
  17. fine — all right
  18. charge — in control
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. charge — electricity
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. squash — the sport
  23. club — a group
  24. pop — music

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