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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: suit · club · stock · fine · cell · trunk · roll · mate

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He was locked up in a ________________.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. mate — a friend
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. suit — clothes
  5. cell — a phone
  6. mate — a partner
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. club — a group
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. fine — high quality
  11. suit — to fit
  12. mate — to breed
  13. suit — in cards
  14. cell — in a prison
  15. club — for golf
  16. cell — in biology
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. fine — all right
  19. stock — shares
  20. club — for dancing
  21. roll — a list
  22. stock — goods
  23. roll — a cake
  24. trunk — of a car

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