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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: key · bark · stock · fine · fan · lean · calf · staff

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. bark — to shout
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. lean — to bend
  8. stock — shares
  9. staff — employees
  10. key — in music
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — a stick
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. stock — goods
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — for a lock
  20. fine — all right
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. lean — thin
  24. fan — to cool the air

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