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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 116 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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. stock — shares
  4. lean — thin
  5. mark — a trace
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. lean — to bend
  9. bear — the animal
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — a stone
  12. craft — boats
  13. craft — a skill
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. bear — the animal
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. mark — a grade
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. stock — goods
  24. bear — to put up with

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