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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: lie · stock · bank · cap · leaves · board · rock · mug

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. rock — a stone
  7. cap — a lid
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — a cup
  11. bank — for money
  12. rock — music
  13. board — a committee
  14. bank — of a river
  15. stock — shares
  16. lie — to recline
  17. mug — to rob
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. cap — of ice
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bank — for money
  23. cap — a hat
  24. board — to get on

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