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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: wind · stock · rock · mark · stand · plane · stick · safe

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. wind — moving air
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. stock — goods
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stock — shares
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. plane — a tool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. rock — music
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — a trace
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. wind — moving air

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