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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.

Make a worksheet

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: nail · trunk · bowl · stock · dip · perch · mine · lash

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. dip — to sink
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. mine — for digging
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. stock — shares
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. perch — the fish
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. stock — goods

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