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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: wake · stock · firm · hide · dip · can · sharp · ball

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. stock — goods
  3. firm — a company
  4. ball — a dance
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. dip — to sink
  12. wake — a trail
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. firm — decided
  15. stock — shares
  16. firm — steady
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. can — to be able to
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. ball — a great time
  24. sharp — clever

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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