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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.

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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: pound · ruler · pass · snap · stock · key · ball · wax

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. stock — shares
  4. snap — to click
  5. pound — a weight
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. wax — to grow
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. ball — a dance
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. key — in music
  17. pass — a permit
  18. ball — a great time
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. key — the most important part
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. stock — goods
  24. key — for a lock

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