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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: safe · pitcher · object · suit · stock · pop · fine · roll

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. fine — high quality
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pop — soda
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. object — to protest
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. roll — a list
  9. fine — all right
  10. pop — to visit
  11. object — an aim
  12. pop — music
  13. suit — to fit
  14. suit — in cards
  15. roll — a cake
  16. suit — clothes
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. stock — goods
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. stock — shares
  21. object — a thing
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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