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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: rush · lie · suit · nail · pass · stock · saw · safe

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. suit — in cards
  5. lie — to recline
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. stock — goods
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — a permit
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. suit — to fit
  14. stock — shares
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. suit — clothes
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. saw — the tool

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