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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: arm · bank · object · stock · pitch · cue · stand · row

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bank — for money
  5. row — to paddle
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. row — a line
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. stock — shares
  11. cue — a hint
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. bank — for money
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. object — a thing
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cue — for pool
  19. pitch — completely
  20. object — to protest
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. stock — goods
  24. bank — of a river

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