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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 116 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 · bear · can · object · net · last · ball · stand

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. stock — goods
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. object — an aim
  5. bear — the animal
  6. last — final
  7. stand — to bear
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. object — to protest
  10. last — to go on
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. net — for catching
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. net — in sport
  16. ball — a great time
  17. net — after costs
  18. can — a tin
  19. ball — a dance
  20. last — finally
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. object — a thing
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. bear — the animal

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