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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: track · plane · stock · stand · pop · fine · fork · deal

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. deal — to handle
  3. track — a song
  4. track — a path
  5. pop — to visit
  6. fork — in a road
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. stock — goods
  11. stand — to bear
  12. pop — soda
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. stock — shares
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fine — all right
  18. track — to keep track
  19. pop — music
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. plane — a tool

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