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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 · racket · wave · swing · sharp · pop · hide · stock

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. fine — high quality
  4. swing — music
  5. stock — shares
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — clever
  13. stock — goods
  14. pop — music
  15. swing — to play on
  16. pop — to visit
  17. pop — soda
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. fine — all right

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