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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 120 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: fall · rush · net · ground · pass · season · cue · stock

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. cue — for pool
  4. season — in sport
  5. stock — goods
  6. stock — shares
  7. cue — a signal
  8. net — after costs
  9. fall — to drop
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. net — in sport
  12. ground — crushed
  13. cue — a hint
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. fall — to drop
  16. season — of the year
  17. ground — a position
  18. pass — a permit
  19. fall — the season
  20. net — for catching
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. ground — the earth

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