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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 · fine · nail · can · craft · rest · pop · wax

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. craft — a skill
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. stock — goods
  5. pop — music
  6. pop — to visit
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. craft — boats
  9. can — a tin
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. fine — high quality
  12. wax — to grow
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. fine — all right
  16. can — a tin
  17. stock — shares
  18. pop — soda
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. can — to be able to
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. rest — what's left
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. rest — a break

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