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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: suit · game · wave · scale · fork · pitcher · bay · stock

  1. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. game — a match
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. suit — in cards
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. game — wild animals
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. suit — clothes
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. scale — size or range
  18. fork — in a road
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. stock — shares
  22. scale — in music
  23. suit — to fit
  24. stock — goods

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