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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. present — there
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. face — to point toward
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. face — part of the head
  14. stock — shares
  15. present — a gift
  16. bulb — for light
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. present — the time now
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. face — to confront
  24. bulb — for light

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