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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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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: fine · craft · bear · bound · court · stock · jam · firm

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. court — of a king
  3. bound — tied together
  4. fine — high quality
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. court — of law
  8. fine — all right
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bear — the animal
  11. firm — a company
  12. court — for sport
  13. firm — decided
  14. craft — boats
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. craft — a skill
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. stock — shares
  20. bear — the animal
  21. firm — steady
  22. bound — certain
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. stock — goods

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