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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: mug · pop · stock · wax · stand · can · row · hand

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. row — to paddle
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mug — to rob
  5. row — a line
  6. stock — goods
  7. hand — in cards
  8. wax — to grow
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. pop — music
  11. can — a tin
  12. pop — to visit
  13. pop — soda
  14. mug — a cup
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. can — a tin
  17. hand — help
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. stand — to bear
  22. mug — a face
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. stock — shares

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