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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
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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: suit · stock · degree · rock · bat · staff · nail · rush

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. degree — an amount
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. stock — goods
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. bat — for baseball
  9. staff — employees
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. degree — from a university
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. degree — temperature
  15. staff — a stick
  16. suit — in cards
  17. rock — music
  18. suit — clothes
  19. rush — hurry
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. bat — the animal
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. staff — employees
  24. suit — to fit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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