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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 · wax · coach · rock · stock · dip · fine

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. dip — to sink
  5. wax — to grow
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. rock — music
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. fine — high quality
  15. stock — shares
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. fine — all right
  18. rush — hurry
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. stock — goods
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. roll — a cake

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