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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. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. mug — to rob
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. bear — the animal
  5. rest — a break
  6. face — to point toward
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. ball — a great time
  9. mug — a face
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. rest — what's left
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. face — to confront
  14. mug — a cup
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. deal — to handle
  17. bear — the animal
  18. face — part of the head
  19. rest — what's left
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. stock — shares
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. ball — a dance
  24. stock — a soup base

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