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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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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: fork · stock · pass · dip · pit · bear · lash · calf

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. dip — to sink
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. pit — in a race
  6. pass — a permit
  7. bear — the animal
  8. stock — goods
  9. fork — in a road
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. stock — shares
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. pit — a hole
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. calf — a young animal

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