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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: firm · stock · object · lean · chip · suit · staff · fan

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. suit — to fit
  3. object — to protest
  4. firm — a company
  5. stock — shares
  6. staff — employees
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. object — an aim
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. firm — steady
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. lean — thin
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lean — to bend
  15. firm — decided
  16. chip — for betting
  17. suit — clothes
  18. suit — in cards
  19. staff — a stick
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. stock — goods
  22. staff — employees
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. object — a thing

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