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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 116 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: craft · calf · stock · staff · fine · mouse · ruler · pitcher

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. stock — shares
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. staff — employees
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. craft — boats
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. staff — employees
  14. craft — a skill
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. fine — high quality
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. staff — a stick
  22. stock — goods
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. stock — a soup base

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