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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 116 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 · cabinet · ruler · fall · mark · lash · key · stand

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. fall — the season
  4. fall — to drop
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. stock — goods
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. stock — shares
  10. fall — to drop
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. key — in music
  13. mark — a trace
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. key — for a lock
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. key — the most important part
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. mark — a grade
  24. stand — to bear

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