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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · root · cue · stock · object · plane · straw · rush

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. cue — a hint
  3. object — a thing
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. root — the cause
  10. object — to protest
  11. plane — a tool
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. straw — dry grass
  14. rash — hasty
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. root — of a plant
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. stock — goods
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. stock — shares
  23. object — an aim
  24. root — of a word

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