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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: season · stick · stock · tear · lean · bank · mark · roll

  1. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — to rip
  2. roll — a cake
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. stock — goods
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. tear — from crying
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. stock — shares
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. bank — of a river
  13. season — in sport
  14. roll — a list
  15. tear — from crying
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. lean — to bend
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. season — of the year
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bank — for money
  22. bank — for money
  23. mark — a grade
  24. lean — thin

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