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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: rest · wax · wake · kid · track · firm · stock · cabinet

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. rest — what's left
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. firm — a company
  6. wake — a trail
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. stock — shares
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. wax — to grow
  11. stock — goods
  12. kid — to tease
  13. rest — a break
  14. rest — what's left
  15. firm — decided
  16. track — a song
  17. track — to keep track
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. firm — steady
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. kid — child
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. stock — a soup base

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