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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mug — a cup
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. degree — from a university
  6. hand — in cards
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stock — goods
  9. face — part of the head
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. hand — help
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. degree — temperature
  14. degree — an amount
  15. mug — a face
  16. mark — a grade
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. face — to confront
  19. stock — shares
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. face — to point toward
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. mug — to rob

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