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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.

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: file · stand · stock · pit · mouse · pitcher · rash · dip

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. file — a document
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. pit — in a race
  5. rash — hasty
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. stand — to bear
  8. file — a line of people
  9. stock — goods
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. stock — shares
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. file — a tool
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. dip — to sink
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. rash — a series
  22. pit — a hole
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. mouse — for a computer

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