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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  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. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. game — wild animals
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bass — low music
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. stock — goods
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. bass — the fish
  13. game — a match
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. stock — shares
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. toast — bread
  23. toast — the most admired
  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