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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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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: rock · arm · branch · row · toast · jam · present · stock

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. stock — goods
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. present — a gift
  5. row — a line
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. present — the time now
  8. branch — a division
  9. present — there
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. stock — shares
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — a stone
  23. toast — bread
  24. row — to paddle

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