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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: rash · stock · rock · land · pit · can · bulb · suit

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. stock — goods
  3. can — to be able to
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rock — music
  6. land — to come down
  7. bulb — for light
  8. rash — a series
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rock — a stone
  11. suit — clothes
  12. can — a tin
  13. suit — to fit
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. stock — shares
  17. can — a tin
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. pit — in a race
  20. land — a country
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. land — ground
  24. bulb — for light

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