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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 120 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: stock · stand · can · tube · object · firm · nail · bass

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. bass — the fish
  5. firm — steady
  6. stock — goods
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. can — a tin
  10. stand — to bear
  11. object — to protest
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. stock — shares
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bass — low music
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. firm — decided
  19. tube — a container
  20. object — a thing
  21. object — an aim
  22. can — a tin
  23. tube — the underground
  24. tube — in a tire

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