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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: safe · stock · rush · coach · row · suit · spell · staff

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. rush — hurry
  5. suit — in cards
  6. stock — goods
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. row — to paddle
  12. spell — magic
  13. stock — shares
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. row — a line
  16. spell — letters
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. staff — employees
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — clothes
  23. staff — employees
  24. staff — a stick

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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