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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: suit · stock · prune · foot · firm · arm · hide · shower

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. prune — to trim
  3. firm — a company
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. suit — clothes
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. stock — goods
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. foot — a measure
  13. shower — rain
  14. shower — to wash
  15. firm — decided
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. firm — steady
  18. suit — to fit
  19. prune — to trim
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. stock — shares

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