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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: mark · leaves · stock · straw · scale · safe · toast · arm

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. stock — shares
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. mark — a grade
  6. toast — bread
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. stock — goods
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. scale — in music
  21. mark — a trace
  22. scale — size or range
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. stock — a soup base

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