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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: wave · fine · rock · rush · jam · stock · fall · rest

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. fall — to drop
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rest — a break
  8. stock — goods
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. rock — a stone
  11. stock — shares
  12. fall — the season
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. rest — what's left
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. rest — what's left
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rock — music
  20. fine — high quality
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. fine — all right
  23. fall — to drop
  24. rush — a thrill

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