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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. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. wound — an injury
  3. stock — goods
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. club — a group
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. club — for dancing
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. club — for golf
  20. tube — the underground
  21. wound — an injury
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. tube — a container
  24. bay — a horse colour

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