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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. can — a tin
  3. tube — a container
  4. stock — shares
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. branch — a division
  8. tube — the underground
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. can — a tin
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. can — to be able to
  18. stock — goods
  19. bore — to drill
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. tube — in a tire

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