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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  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. rock — a stone
  2. bear — the animal
  3. cue — a hint
  4. stock — shares
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. bear — the animal
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. stock — goods
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. rock — music
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. rash — hasty
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. lean — to bend
  18. lean — thin
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. cue — for pool
  22. rash — a series
  23. cue — a signal
  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