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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: stock · ground · lash · root · leaves · stand · suit · rock

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. suit — clothes
  3. ground — the earth
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rock — music
  7. stand — to bear
  8. root — of a word
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. root — of a plant
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. suit — in cards
  15. ground — crushed
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stock — shares
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. suit — to fit
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. root — the cause
  24. ground — a position

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