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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: mug · rush · scale · stock · bear · lash · spell · ruler

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. mug — to rob
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. stock — goods
  7. spell — letters
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. spell — magic
  11. spell — a short time
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. scale — in music
  14. scale — size or range
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bear — the animal
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. mug — a cup
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mug — a face
  22. stock — shares
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. rush — a thrill

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