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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: cabinet · rock · stock · club · spring · pit · ruler · ball

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. spring — the season
  9. club — for golf
  10. spring — of water
  11. stock — goods
  12. pit — a hole
  13. rock — a stone
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. stock — shares
  16. club — for dancing
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. rock — music
  21. pit — in a race
  22. spring — a coil
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. club — a group

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