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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.

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: bank · charge · board · rest · pit · lean · stock · shower

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. pit — a hole
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. bank — of a river
  6. lean — to bend
  7. charge — in control
  8. charge — a price
  9. board — a committee
  10. pit — in a race
  11. stock — goods
  12. rest — a break
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. bank — for money
  15. board — to get on
  16. lean — thin
  17. stock — shares
  18. shower — to wash
  19. bank — for money
  20. shower — rain
  21. charge — electricity
  22. rest — what's left
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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