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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 116 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: file · pass · can · stock · chip · track · scale · shower

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. track — a path
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. scale — size or range
  5. file — a line of people
  6. file — a document
  7. chip — for betting
  8. chip — to eat
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. stock — shares
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pass — a permit
  14. track — to keep track
  15. shower — rain
  16. can — to be able to
  17. file — a tool
  18. can — a tin
  19. track — a song
  20. shower — to wash
  21. can — a tin
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. scale — in music
  24. chip — in a computer

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