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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: racket · lash · stock · season · bound · can · mark · fall

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. fall — to drop
  3. fall — to drop
  4. stock — shares
  5. can — a tin
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a grade
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. can — a tin
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. bound — certain
  12. season — in sport
  13. can — to be able to
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. season — of the year
  17. bound — tied together
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. mark — a trace
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. bound — obliged
  23. fall — the season
  24. racket — a loud noise

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