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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. mark — a trace
  3. key — for a lock
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rule — a law
  7. rash — hasty
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. rule — government
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. stock — shares
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. key — the most important part
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. mark — a grade
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. rush — hurry
  21. key — in music
  22. rash — a series
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. wax — to grow

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