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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: press · board · mark · bass · lean · racket · stand · stock

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. press — a publisher
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. stock — goods
  6. mark — a grade
  7. board — to get on
  8. stand — to bear
  9. press — newspapers
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. lean — to bend
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. stock — shares
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. mark — a trace
  16. lean — thin
  17. bass — the fish
  18. bass — low music
  19. press — to push
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. board — a committee

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