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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: march · fine · stock · coach · mark · safe · hide · jam

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. march — the month
  6. stock — shares
  7. march — music
  8. mark — a trace
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. stock — goods
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. fine — high quality
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. fine — all right
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. march — the month
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. mark — a grade

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