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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: arm · present · cabinet · calf · game · stock · leaves · can

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. game — a match
  4. stock — shares
  5. can — a tin
  6. present — the time now
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. present — a gift
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. game — wild animals
  13. can — a tin
  14. stock — goods
  15. present — there
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. can — to be able to
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. arm — part of the body

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