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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 120 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
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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 · leaves · charge · foot · ruler · stick · straw · mine

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. foot — a measure
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. charge — in control
  7. stock — shares
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. charge — electricity
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. mine — for digging
  19. stock — goods
  20. charge — a price
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. straw — dry grass

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