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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: board · pit · bear · chip · stock · cap · coach · bank

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. board — to get on
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. bank — of a river
  6. bank — for money
  7. bear — the animal
  8. pit — in a race
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. cap — a hat
  11. bear — the animal
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. bank — for money
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. stock — goods
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. chip — to eat
  19. board — a committee
  20. pit — a hole
  21. stock — shares
  22. chip — for betting
  23. cap — of ice
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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