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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: mug · bowl · stock · kick · foot · file · bank · hand

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. kick — in football
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. stock — shares
  5. hand — in cards
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. file — a document
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. file — a tool
  10. mug — to rob
  11. foot — a measure
  12. mug — a face
  13. bank — for money
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bank — of a river
  16. hand — help
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. file — a line of people
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. bank — for money
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. kick — with a leg

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