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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 116 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: rush · lean · suit · pit · rash · charge · stock · sharp

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. stock — goods
  3. suit — to fit
  4. charge — in control
  5. stock — shares
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. pit — in a race
  9. lean — to bend
  10. suit — in cards
  11. lean — thin
  12. sharp — clever
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. pit — a hole
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rash — a series
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. charge — electricity
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. suit — clothes
  24. rash — hasty

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