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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 · chip · dip · pitch · suit · nail · pitcher · foot

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. foot — a measure
  4. stock — goods
  5. pitch — completely
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. suit — to fit
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. dip — to sink
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. suit — clothes
  15. chip — for betting
  16. suit — in cards
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. chip — to eat
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. stock — shares

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