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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 · coach · fall · rock · vault · can · plane · scale

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. rock — a stone
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. plane — a tool
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. can — a tin
  7. stock — goods
  8. can — a tin
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. scale — size or range
  11. fall — the season
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. fall — to drop
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. fall — to drop
  18. scale — in music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. vault — a safe
  22. rock — music
  23. can — to be able to
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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