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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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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: net · stock · bay · suit · staff · rush · toast · cap

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. net — after costs
  3. staff — a stick
  4. stock — goods
  5. cap — a hat
  6. net — in sport
  7. cap — of ice
  8. net — for catching
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. staff — employees
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. suit — to fit
  14. stock — shares
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. suit — clothes
  17. toast — bread
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. cap — a lid
  20. staff — employees
  21. suit — in cards
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. bay — a horse colour

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