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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 120 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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. stock — goods
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mug — a face
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. can — to be able to
  7. track — a song
  8. stock — shares
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. wake — a trail
  11. suit — clothes
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. content — happy
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. track — to keep track
  16. can — a tin
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. track — a path
  19. can — a tin
  20. suit — to fit
  21. mug — to rob
  22. suit — in cards
  23. content — the amount
  24. arm — a part of something

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