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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. track — a song
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bank — for money
  7. cue — a signal
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. game — a match
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. bank — for money
  13. stock — shares
  14. bank — of a river
  15. track — a path
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. cue — for pool
  18. cue — a hint
  19. game — wild animals
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. stock — goods
  24. track — to keep track

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