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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: stock · press · game · saw · can · wave · suit · rush

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. saw — the tool
  3. game — wild animals
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. stock — shares
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. can — a tin
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. press — to push
  10. press — a publisher
  11. rush — hurry
  12. suit — in cards
  13. stock — goods
  14. suit — to fit
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. game — a match
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. can — a tin
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. can — to be able to
  22. suit — clothes
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. saw — the tool

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