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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: mark · pass · mate · ball · arm · pitcher · perch · stock

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. perch — the fish
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. mate — to breed
  7. ball — a dance
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. mate — a friend
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. mate — a partner
  13. ball — a great time
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. mark — a trace
  16. pass — a permit
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. stock — shares
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. mark — a grade
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. stock — goods

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