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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: suit · bound · season · press · stock · nail · fine · leaves

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. press — to push
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. suit — clothes
  5. season — of the year
  6. press — a publisher
  7. bound — obliged
  8. suit — to fit
  9. season — in sport
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. bound — certain
  13. stock — goods
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. suit — in cards
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. fine — high quality
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. press — newspapers
  23. fine — all right
  24. bound — tied together

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