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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: dip · swing · rush · stock · plane · jam · lie · arm

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. swing — music
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. rush — hurry
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. plane — a tool
  12. lie — to recline
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. swing — in golf
  16. swing — to play on
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. stock — goods
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. stock — shares
  24. jam — a tight spot

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