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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 120 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: scale · perch · stock · bear · charge · can · pass · mine

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. scale — size or range
  5. charge — a price
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bear — the animal
  8. charge — in control
  9. charge — electricity
  10. can — a tin
  11. mine — for digging
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. bear — the animal
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. pass — a permit
  17. perch — the fish
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. scale — in music
  20. stock — shares
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. mine — belonging to me

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