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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: can · field · stand · stock · rest · deal · spell · board

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. field — a subject
  3. stand — to bear
  4. spell — magic
  5. stock — shares
  6. stock — goods
  7. board — to get on
  8. can — a tin
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. field — for sport
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. can — a tin
  13. rest — what's left
  14. board — a committee
  15. rest — a break
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. spell — a short time
  18. can — to be able to
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. spell — letters
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. rest — what's left
  23. deal — to handle
  24. field — farmland

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