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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. rash — hasty
  4. wake — a trail
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. stock — goods
  7. pop — music
  8. court — of law
  9. pop — soda
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. firm — steady
  13. stock — shares
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. firm — decided
  18. court — of a king
  19. rash — a series
  20. court — for sport
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. firm — a company
  24. pop — to visit

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