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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: ruler · face · stock · firm · leaves · rush · can · key

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. face — to confront
  5. can — to be able to
  6. key — in music
  7. key — the most important part
  8. can — a tin
  9. stock — shares
  10. firm — steady
  11. face — part of the head
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. face — to point toward
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — hurry
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. can — a tin
  20. firm — a company
  21. firm — decided
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. stock — goods

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