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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: stock · dip · rock · bound · chair · can · track · pitch

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. can — to be able to
  3. pitch — completely
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. can — a tin
  6. track — to keep track
  7. bound — tied together
  8. dip — to sink
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. can — a tin
  11. bound — certain
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. track — a path
  14. stock — shares
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. track — a song
  17. rock — a stone
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. rock — music
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. bound — obliged
  22. chair — a leader
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. dip — to dunk

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