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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 120 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: mark · track · fan · degree · foot · bay · club · stock

  1. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. track — a path
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. degree — an amount
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. club — a group
  12. club — for dancing
  13. track — a song
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. foot — a measure
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. stock — shares
  19. degree — from a university
  20. club — for golf
  21. stock — goods
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. mark — a grade
  24. track — to keep track

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