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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: ruler · rush · kick · prune · suit · fall · fan · stock

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. stock — goods
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. kick — in football
  5. fall — the season
  6. fall — to drop
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. prune — to trim
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. prune — to trim
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. rush — hurry
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. suit — to fit
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. suit — clothes
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. suit — in cards
  24. stock — shares

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