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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: jam · stock · lash · foot · track · ground · nail · face

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. track — a song
  5. face — to confront
  6. foot — a measure
  7. ground — the earth
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. ground — a position
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. face — to point toward
  16. stock — shares
  17. track — a path
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. face — part of the head
  22. track — to keep track
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. ground — crushed

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