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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: snap · rush · stand · season · fork · game · stock · fan

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. stock — shares
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. rush — hurry
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. snap — to click
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. season — of the year
  12. game — a match
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stock — goods
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. game — wild animals
  20. season — in sport
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. game — a kind of play

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