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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: can · rock · bay · stock · wave · bark · stand · mark

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. rock — a stone
  3. stock — goods
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rock — music
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. can — a tin
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. bark — to shout
  17. mark — a grade
  18. stand — to bear
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. can — a tin

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