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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: pop · prune · safe · fine · rock · stock · mark · net

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. net — for catching
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. prune — to trim
  6. fine — high quality
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stock — shares
  9. pop — to visit
  10. pop — music
  11. net — in sport
  12. prune — to trim
  13. mark — a grade
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. net — after costs
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. rock — music
  19. pop — soda
  20. rock — a stone
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. fine — all right
  23. stock — goods
  24. safe — a strongbox

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