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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: stock · land · deal · coach · straw · arm · charge · stick

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. land — to come down
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. deal — to handle
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. stock — goods
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. charge — a price
  14. land — a country
  15. land — ground
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. stock — shares
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. charge — electricity
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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