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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: present · saw · bat · stock · root · mouse · board · can

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. can — a tin
  3. root — of a plant
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. present — there
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bat — the animal
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. stock — shares
  11. present — the time now
  12. board — to get on
  13. root — of a word
  14. can — to be able to
  15. saw — the tool
  16. present — a gift
  17. stock — goods
  18. root — the cause
  19. board — a committee
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. can — a tin
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. mouse — the animal

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