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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: hide · lash · toast · mine · land · stock · season · stand

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. stock — goods
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. land — to come down
  11. land — ground
  12. land — a country
  13. stock — shares
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. season — in sport
  18. toast — bread
  19. season — of the year
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. mine — for digging
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. stand — to bear

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