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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: stock · fine · ruler · chip · fan · race · rock · rush

  1. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. chip — to eat
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. race — a contest
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. stock — shares
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. rock — music
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rock — a stone
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. fine — all right
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. race — the arms race
  19. chip — for betting
  20. stock — goods
  21. fine — high quality
  22. rush — hurry
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. fine — a penalty

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