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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: dip · branch · ball · stand · toast · bay · pitcher · stock

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stock — goods
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. toast — bread
  9. stock — shares
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. ball — a great time
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. branch — a division
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. ball — a dance
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. stand — for spectators

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