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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: march · stock · mouse · key · lash · wake · leaves · can

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. can — to be able to
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. can — a tin
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. march — the month
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. can — a tin
  12. key — the most important part
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. stock — shares
  16. stock — goods
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. key — for a lock
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. march — the month
  22. key — in music
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. march — music

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