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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 don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. rock — a stone
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. fall — to drop
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. season — in sport
  8. fall — to drop
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mate — a friend
  12. stock — goods
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. mate — to breed
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. bass — low music
  18. mate — a partner
  19. season — of the year
  20. rock — music
  21. bass — the fish
  22. stock — shares
  23. fall — the season
  24. mark — a trace

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