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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lash · chip · stock · rock · arm · plane · bear · fan

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stock — shares
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. stock — goods
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. chip — for betting
  13. bear — the animal
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. chip — to eat
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. plane — a tool
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. lash — an eyelash

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