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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: season · stock · toast · mark · fall · stick · safe · charge

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. fall — to drop
  4. stock — goods
  5. mark — a grade
  6. stock — shares
  7. charge — a price
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. fall — to drop
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mark — a trace
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. season — of the year
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. toast — bread
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. charge — electricity
  20. charge — in control
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. season — in sport
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. fall — the season

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