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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: racket · toast · bound · rest · scale · lash · stock · stand

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. toast — bread
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bound — certain
  8. stock — goods
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. scale — in music
  15. scale — size or range
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. bound — obliged
  21. rest — a break
  22. rest — what's left
  23. stand — to bear
  24. stock — shares

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