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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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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: lash · stock · pit · deal · object · court · cue · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. court — of a king
  3. stock — shares
  4. rock — music
  5. court — of law
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. cue — a signal
  8. court — for sport
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. object — an aim
  13. cue — a hint
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. stock — goods
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. pit — in a race
  18. pit — a hole
  19. object — a thing
  20. object — to protest
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. cue — for pool
  24. stock — a soup base

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