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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: wax · fine · field · stock · fall · bank · roll · foot

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. stock — shares
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. fall — to drop
  5. stock — goods
  6. bank — for money
  7. fine — all right
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bank — for money
  10. field — a subject
  11. field — farmland
  12. foot — a measure
  13. field — for sport
  14. fall — the season
  15. fine — high quality
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. roll — a list
  19. fall — to drop
  20. roll — a cake
  21. wax — to grow
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. wax — in the ear

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