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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: bound · foot · track · stock · ground · cabinet · bowl · cue

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. cue — for pool
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. ground — a position
  7. cue — a hint
  8. stock — goods
  9. cue — a signal
  10. ground — the earth
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. bound — certain
  15. stock — shares
  16. track — a path
  17. foot — a measure
  18. ground — crushed
  19. track — a song
  20. bound — obliged
  21. track — to keep track
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bowl — a football final

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