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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: mouse · stock · spring · jam · spell · mark · craft · lean

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. spring — a coil
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. craft — boats
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. lean — to bend
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mark — a trace
  11. spring — of water
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — letters
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. craft — a skill
  17. spell — a short time
  18. mark — a grade
  19. spring — the season
  20. stock — shares
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. stock — goods
  24. mouse — for a computer

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