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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: lie · staff · fine · can · sharp · stock · cabinet · pop

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. stock — shares
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. staff — a stick
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. staff — employees
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. can — a tin
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — all right
  13. sharp — clever
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. stock — goods
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. staff — employees
  18. can — a tin
  19. fine — high quality
  20. can — to be able to
  21. pop — soda
  22. pop — music
  23. lie — to recline
  24. pop — to visit

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