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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: hand · rock · can · safe · arm · bulb · stock · fork

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. hand — help
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rock — music
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. fork — in a road
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. can — to be able to
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. stock — goods
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. can — a tin
  17. stock — shares
  18. hand — in cards
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. bulb — for light
  24. can — a tin

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