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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: dip · wound · rash · can · ball · fall · fine · stock

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. fine — high quality
  3. fall — the season
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. can — a tin
  6. ball — a dance
  7. can — to be able to
  8. stock — goods
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. rash — a series
  12. ball — a great time
  13. fall — to drop
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. wound — an injury
  17. stock — shares
  18. rash — hasty
  19. wound — an injury
  20. fall — to drop
  21. can — a tin
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. fine — all right
  24. dip — to sink

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