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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: staff · board · stock · stand · jam · safe · shower · rule

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. board — a committee
  4. stand — to bear
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. shower — to wash
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. stock — shares
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. staff — employees
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. shower — rain
  16. staff — a stick
  17. board — to get on
  18. rule — government
  19. stock — goods
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. staff — employees
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rule — a law
  24. safe — out of danger

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