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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.

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: pass · craft · arm · rush · stock · stem · lie · fall

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. stock — shares
  3. rush — hurry
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. fall — to drop
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. fall — the season
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. stock — goods
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. fall — to drop
  16. stem — to come from
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. craft — a skill
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. lie — to recline
  23. pass — a permit
  24. craft — boats

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