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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: pass · tube · rash · present · ball · stock · wake · bay

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. pass — a permit
  5. present — a gift
  6. stock — goods
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. present — there
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. ball — a great time
  11. rash — hasty
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. ball — a dance
  15. rash — a series
  16. present — the time now
  17. wake — a trail
  18. tube — the underground
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. tube — a container
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. stock — shares
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. wake — before a funeral

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