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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: roll · lean · charge · can · stock · track · rule · season

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. track — to keep track
  4. season — in sport
  5. roll — a cake
  6. season — of the year
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. charge — in control
  9. rule — a law
  10. can — a tin
  11. stock — shares
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. can — to be able to
  16. charge — a price
  17. lean — to bend
  18. rule — government
  19. can — a tin
  20. charge — electricity
  21. track — a path
  22. lean — thin
  23. roll — a list
  24. track — a song

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