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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: file · mark · lash · pass · bear · stick · track · stock

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. file — a line of people
  4. mark — a trace
  5. stock — goods
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. stock — shares
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. track — a song
  11. mark — a grade
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. track — a path
  14. file — a tool
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. track — to keep track
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. file — a document

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