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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.

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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: can · pit · firm · stick · racket · mark · stock · snap

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. mark — a grade
  3. can — a tin
  4. stock — shares
  5. can — to be able to
  6. stock — goods
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. mark — a trace
  10. pit — a hole
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. pit — in a race
  15. firm — steady
  16. can — a tin
  17. firm — decided
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. firm — a company
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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