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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: leaves · wax · rule · stock · stand · rock · foot · bulb

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. stock — goods
  3. foot — a measure
  4. rule — a law
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. bulb — for light
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. bulb — for light
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. rock — a stone
  13. wax — to grow
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. rule — government
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. stock — shares
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. rock — music

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