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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: roll · stock · pass · saw · rush · key · hide · rock

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. roll — a cake
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. key — the most important part
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rock — music
  12. roll — a list
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. key — in music
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. stock — shares
  19. pass — a permit
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. stock — goods
  24. rush — hurry

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