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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.

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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: ball · stock · bore · firm · rock · stand · object · bark

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. stand — to bear
  3. object — a thing
  4. stock — shares
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. stock — goods
  7. bark — to shout
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. ball — a dance
  11. firm — steady
  12. object — an aim
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. rock — music
  15. object — to protest
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. rock — a stone
  18. firm — decided
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. bore — to tire
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. bore — to drill
  24. ball — a great time

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