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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: ruler · stock · cabinet · roll · bowl · craft · track · cue

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. craft — boats
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. track — a path
  8. craft — a skill
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. stock — shares
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. cue — a signal
  15. track — to keep track
  16. stock — goods
  17. track — a song
  18. cue — a hint
  19. roll — a cake
  20. cue — for pool
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. roll — a list
  24. cabinet — ministers

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