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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: scale · temple · mate · bear · trunk · toast · pound · stock

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. mate — to breed
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. stock — shares
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. toast — bread
  9. stock — goods
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. mate — a partner
  12. bear — the animal
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. scale — size or range
  15. scale — in music
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. pound — a weight
  21. mate — a friend
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. trunk — of a car

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