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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. row — to paddle
  3. season — in sport
  4. stock — goods
  5. can — a tin
  6. bass — low music
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. row — a line
  9. wake — a trail
  10. ball — a great time
  11. last — final
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. last — to go on
  14. last — finally
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. stock — shares
  17. can — to be able to
  18. ball — a dance
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. can — a tin
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bass — the fish

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