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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: stock · wound · stick · suit · cap · toast · mouse · ball

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. suit — to fit
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. stock — goods
  7. toast — bread
  8. wound — an injury
  9. ball — a great time
  10. cap — of ice
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. cap — a lid
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. suit — in cards
  17. ball — a dance
  18. wound — an injury
  19. suit — clothes
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. stock — shares
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. cap — a hat

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