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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bore · stock · bank · lash · nail · stand · scale · bay

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. stand — to bear
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. scale — in music
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bore — to drill
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. stock — shares
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. scale — size or range
  21. bank — for money
  22. bore — to tire
  23. stock — goods
  24. stand — on your feet

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