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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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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 · stand · bowl · hand · ruler · nail · bank · pitcher

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. hand — help
  7. bank — of a river
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. stock — goods
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. stock — shares
  14. bank — for money
  15. stand — to bear
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bank — for money
  18. hand — in cards
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. ruler — for measuring

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