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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.

Make a worksheet

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: plane · coach · arm · perch · bear · stock · suit · present

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. present — a gift
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. bear — the animal
  6. plane — a tool
  7. suit — to fit
  8. stock — shares
  9. perch — the fish
  10. present — the time now
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. stock — goods
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bear — the animal
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. suit — in cards
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. present — there
  24. suit — clothes

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