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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: board · calf · face · stock · mate · cabinet · stand · bear

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. face — to confront
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bear — the animal
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. stock — shares
  9. bear — the animal
  10. board — a committee
  11. mate — a friend
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. face — to point toward
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. board — to get on
  18. mate — a partner
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. mate — to breed
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. stock — goods
  24. calf — a young animal

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