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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
468
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: stock · wave · staff · board · rash · pitch · cell · rock

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. stock — shares
  3. board — a committee
  4. rock — music
  5. pitch — completely
  6. board — to get on
  7. rash — hasty
  8. staff — employees
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. staff — employees
  13. cell — a phone
  14. stock — goods
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. rash — a series
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. rock — a stone
  22. staff — a stick
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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