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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. tube — a container
  3. stock — shares
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. clip — a video
  6. tube — the underground
  7. firm — a company
  8. clip — to cut
  9. rash — a series
  10. stock — goods
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. rash — hasty
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. branch — a division
  16. clip — for paper
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. firm — steady
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. firm — decided
  24. tube — in a tire

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