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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: jam · arm · leaves · mouse · cap · lie · track · stock

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. stock — shares
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. track — a path
  6. lie — to recline
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. cap — a hat
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. cap — of ice
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. track — a song
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. stock — goods
  22. track — to keep track
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. lie — an untruth

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