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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: mark · bank · stock · bass · season · hide · charge · wave

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. season — in sport
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mark — a grade
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. bank — for money
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. bank — for money
  11. bass — low music
  12. stock — shares
  13. mark — a trace
  14. charge — a price
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. charge — electricity
  17. bass — the fish
  18. charge — in control
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. bank — of a river
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. season — of the year

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