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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: suit · mug · temple · staff · rush · perch · stock · bass

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. stock — goods
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. rush — hurry
  8. suit — to fit
  9. perch — the fish
  10. staff — employees
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. mug — a face
  13. stock — shares
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. mug — a cup
  16. bass — low music
  17. bass — the fish
  18. staff — employees
  19. staff — a stick
  20. suit — clothes
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. mug — to rob
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. suit — in cards

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