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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: stock · lash · bore · can · wax · staff · cap · firm

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. staff — a stick
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. bore — to tire
  5. stock — shares
  6. can — a tin
  7. bore — to drill
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. cap — of ice
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. wax — to grow
  13. firm — decided
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. firm — steady
  19. firm — a company
  20. staff — employees
  21. cap — a lid
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. staff — employees
  24. stock — goods

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