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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: stock · deal · bowl · perch · trunk · rush · arm · mug

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. mug — a face
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. mug — a cup
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. stock — shares
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. mug — to rob
  17. stock — goods
  18. deal — to handle
  19. rush — hurry
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. perch — the fish

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