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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: bay · hand · pass · firm · mouse · mine · key · stock

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. firm — steady
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. firm — decided
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. stock — shares
  13. key — in music
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. key — for a lock
  16. mine — for digging
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. pass — a permit
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. hand — help
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. stock — goods
  23. firm — a company
  24. key — the most important part

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