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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: file · can · craft · suit · stock · bass · rash · stand

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. craft — a skill
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stock — goods
  5. file — a tool
  6. file — a document
  7. bass — the fish
  8. rash — a series
  9. can — a tin
  10. stand — to bear
  11. stock — shares
  12. can — to be able to
  13. can — a tin
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. suit — clothes
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. file — a line of people
  18. rash — hasty
  19. bass — low music
  20. suit — in cards
  21. suit — to fit
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. craft — boats
  24. stock — a soup base

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