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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: bank · season · lash · rush · suit · roll · stock · ground

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. stock — goods
  3. suit — clothes
  4. bank — for money
  5. bank — of a river
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. roll — a cake
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. season — in sport
  15. stock — shares
  16. suit — to fit
  17. season — of the year
  18. ground — a position
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. suit — in cards
  21. rush — hurry
  22. roll — a list
  23. ground — crushed
  24. ground — the earth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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