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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: face · stand · bowl · march · calf · stock · mouse · plane

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. march — the month
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. march — the month
  7. stock — goods
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. stand — to bear
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. plane — a tool
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. face — part of the head
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. face — to confront
  18. march — music
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. stock — shares
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. face — to point toward

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