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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: rash · club · court · stock · bay · stand · plane · row

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. stand — to bear
  3. rash — a series
  4. club — for dancing
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. club — a group
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. row — a line
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. court — of law
  15. stock — shares
  16. row — to paddle
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. rash — hasty
  20. plane — a tool
  21. club — for golf
  22. court — of a king
  23. court — for sport
  24. stock — goods

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