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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 116 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
468
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: wave · stock · mouse · coach · mark · ruler · bay · rush

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. rush — hurry
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. stock — shares
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. mark — a grade
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. mark — a trace
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. stock — goods
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. mouse — the animal

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