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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: stock · spell · current · mug · saw · rash · rush · band

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. mug — a cup
  3. band — a ring
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. current — of water
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. saw — the tool
  9. spell — a short time
  10. stock — goods
  11. rash — hasty
  12. rash — a series
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. stock — shares
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. rush — hurry
  17. band — a music group
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mug — to rob
  20. spell — letters
  21. spell — magic
  22. current — happening now
  23. current — electric
  24. mug — a face

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