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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: rush · stock · root · pop · prune · mark · stand · fall

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pop — to visit
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. prune — to trim
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. stock — shares
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. pop — soda
  9. prune — to trim
  10. fall — the season
  11. mark — a grade
  12. root — of a word
  13. fall — to drop
  14. stand — to bear
  15. pop — music
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. fall — to drop
  18. rush — hurry
  19. stock — goods
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. root — of a plant
  22. mark — a trace
  23. root — the cause
  24. mark — to pay attention

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