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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.

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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: pitcher · track · net · board · root · stock · vault · rock

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. rock — a stone
  3. board — to get on
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. track — to keep track
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. net — in sport
  8. root — of a plant
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. net — after costs
  11. net — for catching
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. root — the cause
  15. vault — a safe
  16. track — a path
  17. stock — shares
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. track — a song
  22. board — a committee
  23. root — of a word
  24. rock — music

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