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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  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. safe — a strongbox
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. net — in sport
  5. stock — shares
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. net — after costs
  12. pop — to visit
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. deal — to handle
  15. net — for catching
  16. pop — soda
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. stem — to come from
  19. stock — goods
  20. pop — music
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  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