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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: root · board · drill · ball · stand · ground · stock · cue

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. root — the cause
  3. root — of a plant
  4. cue — a hint
  5. board — a committee
  6. ground — crushed
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stand — to bear
  10. drill — army training
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a dance
  13. root — of a word
  14. drill — the tool
  15. ground — the earth
  16. cue — for pool
  17. board — to get on
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. stock — shares
  20. stock — goods
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. ground — a position
  23. cue — a signal
  24. ball — a round shape

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