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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: rock · wax · hide · stock · calf · bear · arm · rash

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. stock — goods
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. stock — shares
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. wax — to grow
  8. rock — music
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. bear — the animal
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. rash — a series
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. bear — the animal
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. rash — hasty

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