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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: charge · stock · pit · leaves · pop · land · jam · can

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. pop — soda
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. stock — shares
  7. pop — to visit
  8. stock — goods
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. can — a tin
  13. charge — a price
  14. charge — in control
  15. pop — music
  16. pit — in a race
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. land — to come down
  19. land — a country
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. pit — a hole
  23. charge — electricity
  24. land — ground

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