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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 would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. lie — to recline
  3. cue — for pool
  4. board — a committee
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. net — for catching
  8. stock — shares
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. pitch — completely
  11. rest — what's left
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. net — in sport
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rush — hurry
  16. stock — goods
  17. cue — a hint
  18. rest — what's left
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. board — to get on
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. cue — a signal
  24. net — after costs

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