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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: stock · key · plane · calf · mark · rock · pit · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. key — the most important part
  3. mark — a trace
  4. key — in music
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. stock — goods
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. key — for a lock
  10. mark — a grade
  11. fine — high quality
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. rock — music
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. fine — all right
  16. plane — a tool
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. rock — a stone
  20. pit — a hole
  21. stock — shares
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. pit — in a race
  24. calf — a young animal

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