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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: root · row · deal · stock · field · vault · coach · net

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. stock — goods
  3. net — in sport
  4. root — of a word
  5. deal — to handle
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. root — the cause
  8. vault — a safe
  9. root — of a plant
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. field — farmland
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. net — for catching
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. row — a line
  17. net — after costs
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. row — to paddle
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. field — a subject
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. stock — shares
  24. deal — an agreement

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