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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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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. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. stock — goods
  3. file — a document
  4. saw — the tool
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. file — a line of people
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. stock — shares
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. saw — the tool
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. coach — a trainer

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