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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: mug · fall · board · safe · mouse · last · dip · stock

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. last — final
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. last — finally
  9. fall — to drop
  10. stock — goods
  11. stock — shares
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. fall — to drop
  14. last — to go on
  15. board — a committee
  16. mug — a face
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. board — to get on
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. dip — to sink
  22. mug — to rob
  23. fall — the season
  24. dip — to dunk

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