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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: stock · land · present · rule · bay · pound · safe · can

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. stock — goods
  3. pound — a weight
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. present — a gift
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. present — the time now
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. can — to be able to
  11. land — a country
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. can — a tin
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. rule — government
  17. land — ground
  18. stock — shares
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. present — there
  21. land — to come down
  22. rule — a law
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. can — a tin

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