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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 · bark · rest · rush · rock · suit · straw · can

  1. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — of a tree
  2. suit — to fit
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. can — a tin
  5. rest — a break
  6. suit — clothes
  7. stock — goods
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. rock — music
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. rock — a stone
  14. can — a tin
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. can — to be able to
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bark — to shout
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. rest — what's left
  22. rush — hurry
  23. stock — shares
  24. rest — what's left

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