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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
468
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: spell · roll · hide · foot · fine · jam · stock · plane

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. roll — a cake
  3. stock — goods
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. fine — all right
  8. spell — magic
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. spell — letters
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. plane — a tool
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. stock — shares
  20. fine — high quality
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. roll — a list
  23. spell — a short time
  24. foot — a measure

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