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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
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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: key · mouse · stock · dip · foot · bear · deal · jam

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. bear — the animal
  3. dip — to sink
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. key — the most important part
  6. deal — to handle
  7. stock — goods
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. stock — shares
  11. bear — the animal
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. key — in music
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. key — for a lock

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