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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: row · file · stock · cue · roll · fine · perch · calf

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. file — a document
  4. row — to paddle
  5. cue — a signal
  6. roll — a list
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. file — a line of people
  9. fine — all right
  10. roll — a cake
  11. file — a tool
  12. cue — for pool
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. row — a line
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. cue — a hint
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. perch — the fish
  21. stock — goods
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. fine — high quality

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