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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 120 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: firm · mug · rush · ground · stock · branch · can · lean

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. stock — goods
  3. firm — decided
  4. lean — to bend
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. can — to be able to
  7. branch — a division
  8. ground — a position
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a face
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. can — a tin
  16. lean — thin
  17. firm — steady
  18. rush — hurry
  19. stock — shares
  20. firm — a company
  21. ground — crushed
  22. mug — a cup
  23. can — a tin
  24. lean — to rest against

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