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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: mug · leaves · deal · stock · rash · rush · bear · fall

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mug — a face
  4. mug — to rob
  5. rash — a series
  6. fall — to drop
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. stock — shares
  10. stock — goods
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. rash — hasty
  13. fall — the season
  14. bear — the animal
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. fall — to drop
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bear — the animal
  22. mug — a cup
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. leaves — of a tree

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