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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: current · rush · staff · stock · fork · suit · spell · season

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. current — of water
  3. spell — a short time
  4. staff — a stick
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. current — electric
  7. suit — in cards
  8. season — in sport
  9. suit — clothes
  10. current — happening now
  11. suit — to fit
  12. stock — goods
  13. season — of the year
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. spell — letters
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. staff — employees
  18. spell — magic
  19. stock — shares
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. staff — employees
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. season — to add flavour

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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