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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.

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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: firm · mine · stock · rule · staff · leaves · can · foot

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. rule — a law
  4. rule — government
  5. firm — decided
  6. staff — employees
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. can — a tin
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. can — a tin
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. stock — shares
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. firm — steady
  18. mine — for digging
  19. foot — a measure
  20. staff — employees
  21. can — to be able to
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. staff — a stick
  24. firm — a company

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