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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
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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 · last · ruler · net · safe · roll · bay · mark

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. net — for catching
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. last — finally
  6. last — to go on
  7. roll — a list
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. mark — a grade
  12. last — final
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. net — in sport
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. roll — a cake
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. net — after costs
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. mark — a trace
  22. stock — goods
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. ruler — for measuring

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