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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.

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: key · mug · rush · fan · mate · stock · track · straw

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. stock — shares
  3. mate — a partner
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. stock — goods
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. track — to keep track
  9. mug — a face
  10. track — a path
  11. key — in music
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mug — a cup
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. rush — hurry
  19. track — a song
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. key — the most important part
  22. mate — a friend
  23. key — for a lock
  24. mug — to rob

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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