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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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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: bound · stand · bore · stock · bay · cabinet · branch · rock

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. stand — to bear
  3. stock — shares
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. rock — a stone
  7. branch — a division
  8. bound — obliged
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bore — to drill
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. rock — music
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. bound — certain
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. bore — to tire
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. stock — goods
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. bound — tied together

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