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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. stock — goods
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. stock — shares
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. pit — in a race
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. present — there
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. pit — a hole
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. present — the time now
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pass — a permit
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. present — a gift
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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