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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 120 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: track · spell · fine · rush · content · stock · sharp · rock

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. track — a song
  3. fine — all right
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. content — happy
  6. stock — goods
  7. track — to keep track
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. spell — magic
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. rush — hurry
  13. spell — a short time
  14. spell — letters
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. sharp — clever
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. stock — shares
  19. content — the amount
  20. track — a path
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rock — music
  23. rock — a stone
  24. fine — high quality

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