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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: can · fork · mug · bound · stand · stock · coach · chip

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stock — shares
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. stock — goods
  6. chip — to eat
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. bound — tied together
  9. stand — to bear
  10. can — to be able to
  11. chip — for betting
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — a face
  15. can — a tin
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. fork — in a road
  19. mug — to rob
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. can — a tin
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — certain
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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