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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.

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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: fall · prune · bowl · deal · suit · stock · ruler · charge

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. stock — goods
  3. suit — in cards
  4. charge — in control
  5. fall — to drop
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. suit — clothes
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. stock — shares
  12. suit — to fit
  13. charge — a price
  14. fall — the season
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. deal — to handle
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. fall — to drop
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. prune — to trim
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. prune — to trim

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