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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: stock · fine · lie · roll · toast · row · bay · racket

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. stock — shares
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. row — to paddle
  5. fine — high quality
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. roll — a cake
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. roll — a list
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. stock — goods
  20. lie — to recline
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. fine — all right
  23. toast — bread
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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