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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 116 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: calf · snap · fine · bay · key · can · stock · pass

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. can — a tin
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. key — the most important part
  12. pass — a permit
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. fine — all right
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. can — to be able to
  17. stock — shares
  18. snap — to click
  19. fine — high quality
  20. stock — goods
  21. key — for a lock
  22. key — in music
  23. can — a tin
  24. bay — a horse colour

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