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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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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: calf · stock · mouse · lean · stand · sharp · fall · foot

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. stock — goods
  3. stock — shares
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. sharp — clever
  9. fall — to drop
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. foot — a measure
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. lean — thin
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. stand — to bear
  20. fall — the season
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. lean — to bend
  23. fall — to drop
  24. mouse — the animal

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