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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: present · bear · date · lie · stock · bark · rush · vault

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. stock — goods
  3. present — a gift
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. present — the time now
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. date — the fruit
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. rush — hurry
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bear — the animal
  18. stock — shares
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. present — there
  21. vault — a safe
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bark — to shout
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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