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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: kick · mouse · season · cabinet · leaves · ball · firm · stock

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. ball — a great time
  3. season — in sport
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. firm — decided
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. firm — steady
  8. stock — shares
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. kick — in football
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. season — of the year
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. firm — a company
  19. ball — a dance
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. ball — a round shape

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