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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: roll · rush · stock · lie · safe · mate · saw · ball

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. saw — the tool
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. stock — shares
  5. saw — the tool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. roll — a list
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. ball — a great time
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. mate — to breed
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. roll — a cake
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. mate — a friend
  19. mate — a partner
  20. lie — to recline
  21. stock — goods
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. roll — on a roll

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