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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: mark · racket · pop · drill · coach · calf · staff · stock

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  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. racket — for tennis
  2. stock — shares
  3. drill — army training
  4. drill — the tool
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. drill — a practice
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. stock — goods
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. pop — music
  12. staff — a stick
  13. mark — a trace
  14. staff — employees
  15. mark — a grade
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. pop — soda
  18. pop — to visit
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. staff — employees
  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