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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: temple · stock · cabinet · rock · lash · current · leaves · chip

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. stock — goods
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. rock — music
  10. chip — to eat
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. current — happening now
  15. stock — shares
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. current — of water
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. current — electric
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. lash — to lash out

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