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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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. stock — shares
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. kick — in football
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. mark — a grade
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. tube — the underground
  16. stock — goods
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. staff — employees
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. tube — a container
  23. staff — employees
  24. mark — a trace

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