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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 120 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: bass · wound · stock · mark · can · suit · stick · ground

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. suit — clothes
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bass — the fish
  7. stock — goods
  8. ground — crushed
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. can — a tin
  11. mark — a grade
  12. can — a tin
  13. wound — an injury
  14. suit — to fit
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. suit — in cards
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. mark — a trace
  19. stock — shares
  20. bass — low music
  21. can — to be able to
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. wound — an injury
  24. ground — a position

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