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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: rash · tear · row · suit · stock · last · ruler · foot

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. suit — to fit
  3. rash — a series
  4. stock — goods
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. tear — from crying
  9. suit — in cards
  10. row — a line
  11. foot — a measure
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. last — final
  16. suit — clothes
  17. last — finally
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. tear — to rip
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. rash — hasty
  22. tear — from crying
  23. last — to go on
  24. stock — shares

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