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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: cap · rush · press · firm · stock · nail · saw · hide

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. stock — goods
  3. cap — a lid
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. stock — shares
  7. saw — the tool
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. press — to push
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. rush — hurry
  14. firm — a company
  15. cap — a hat
  16. firm — decided
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. saw — the tool
  21. press — newspapers
  22. cap — of ice
  23. firm — steady
  24. press — a publisher

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