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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 120 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: deal · ruler · rush · snap · fork · stock · rock · cap

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. deal — to handle
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. stock — goods
  10. cap — of ice
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rock — a stone
  14. cap — a hat
  15. snap — to click
  16. cap — a lid
  17. stock — shares
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. fork — in a road
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. rock — music

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