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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: degree · wave · stock · rock · mark · wound · mate · suit

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. stock — shares
  3. stock — goods
  4. suit — clothes
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mate — a partner
  8. degree — an amount
  9. suit — in cards
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. mate — a friend
  12. rock — music
  13. suit — to fit
  14. mark — a grade
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wound — an injury
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. degree — temperature
  21. degree — from a university
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. rock — a stone

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