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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: rash · stock · key · saw · wind · pass · mug · firm

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. stock — shares
  3. firm — a company
  4. wind — moving air
  5. key — in music
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. rash — a series
  8. saw — the tool
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. rash — hasty
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. pass — a permit
  13. firm — steady
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. mug — a cup
  17. key — for a lock
  18. firm — decided
  19. mug — to rob
  20. saw — the tool
  21. stock — goods
  22. wind — moving air
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. key — the most important part

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