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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wound · bear · mark · stock · face · lash · press · board

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. wound — an injury
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. mark — a grade
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. mark — a trace
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. face — part of the head
  12. stock — shares
  13. press — to push
  14. wound — an injury
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. press — newspapers
  17. face — to point toward
  18. board — to get on
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. press — a publisher
  22. board — a committee
  23. stock — goods
  24. face — to confront

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