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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 120 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 · mug · craft · object · fine · stock · ball · kick

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. mug — to rob
  3. ball — a dance
  4. stock — shares
  5. wake — a trail
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. kick — in football
  8. object — to protest
  9. ball — a great time
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. mug — a cup
  12. fine — all right
  13. fine — high quality
  14. stock — goods
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. craft — boats
  18. object — a thing
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. craft — a skill
  23. object — an aim
  24. mug — a face

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