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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.

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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: hide · stock · game · trunk · face · bear · suit · mark

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. face — to point toward
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. face — to confront
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. stock — goods
  8. mark — a grade
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. suit — in cards
  12. face — part of the head
  13. stock — shares
  14. bear — the animal
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. bear — the animal
  17. game — wild animals
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a trace
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. game — a match

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