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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: stick · stock · toast · rush · snap · pit · key · bear

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. pit — in a race
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. pit — a hole
  5. bear — the animal
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. bear — the animal
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. rush — hurry
  10. key — in music
  11. stock — goods
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. stock — shares
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. key — the most important part
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. snap — to click
  20. toast — bread
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. key — for a lock
  24. stock — a soup base

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