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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. object — a thing
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. ball — a dance
  5. bank — for money
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. pop — music
  8. ball — a great time
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. bank — for money
  11. pit — a hole
  12. can — a tin
  13. bank — of a river
  14. pit — in a race
  15. object — an aim
  16. stock — shares
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. can — a tin
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. object — to protest
  21. pop — to visit
  22. can — to be able to
  23. stock — goods
  24. pop — soda

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