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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: roll · stock · fine · rush · temple · race · sharp · dip

  1. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. roll — a list
  3. roll — a cake
  4. dip — to sink
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. fine — all right
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. stock — goods
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. race — a contest
  14. fine — high quality
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — hurry
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. stock — shares
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. race — the arms race

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