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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
468
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: row · staff · season · nail · ruler · rock · fan · stock

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. season — in sport
  3. stock — shares
  4. staff — a stick
  5. season — of the year
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. row — a line
  11. rock — music
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. stock — goods
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. row — to paddle
  18. staff — employees
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. staff — employees
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. rock — a stone

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