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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: stock · board · bore · leaves · wave · scale · mine · lash

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. stock — goods
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. scale — size or range
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. bore — to drill
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. board — a committee
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. mine — for digging
  19. stock — shares
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. board — to get on
  24. bore — to tire

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