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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: stand · calf · mark · bulb · stock · rock · lean · field

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  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. field — for sport
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. mark — a trace
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. lean — thin
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. mark — a grade
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rock — a stone
  16. lean — to bend
  17. field — farmland
  18. stock — shares
  19. rock — music
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. stand — to bear
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. field — a subject
  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