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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 116 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: firm · stock · leaves · charge · stand · pop · rush · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. pop — music
  3. rush — hurry
  4. pop — to visit
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. pop — soda
  8. firm — a company
  9. charge — in control
  10. can — to be able to
  11. charge — electricity
  12. stock — goods
  13. firm — steady
  14. stock — shares
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. can — a tin
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. charge — a price
  24. firm — decided

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