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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 120 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: stock · arm · safe · rash · swing · mine · dip · bay

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. swing — to play on
  4. swing — music
  5. stock — shares
  6. rash — a series
  7. swing — in golf
  8. dip — to sink
  9. rash — hasty
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stock — goods
  13. mine — for digging
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. dip — a sauce

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