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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: board · pit · pop · stock · bat · mouse · foot · ruler

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. pop — soda
  3. bat — for baseball
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pop — to visit
  6. foot — a measure
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. board — to get on
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. board — a committee
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bat — in an idiom
  20. pop — music
  21. pit — a hole
  22. stock — shares
  23. stock — goods
  24. bat — the animal

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