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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
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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: spell · date · mouse · stock · rock · suit · field · toast

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. suit — clothes
  3. stock — goods
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. rock — a stone
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. field — a subject
  8. field — for sport
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. suit — in cards
  11. spell — a short time
  12. date — the fruit
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. suit — to fit
  15. stock — shares
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. field — farmland
  18. spell — magic
  19. spell — letters
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. rock — music
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. toast — bread
  24. rock — to move gently

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