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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: rash · ruler · pass · stock · wind · charge · jam · safe

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. rash — a series
  3. charge — a price
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. pass — a permit
  14. wind — moving air
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. charge — in control
  18. stock — goods
  19. rash — hasty
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. charge — electricity
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. wind — moving air
  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