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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 · rush · bank · cabinet · suit · mark · drill · bulb

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bulb — for light
  4. suit — to fit
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bank — of a river
  7. rush — hurry
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. stock — shares
  10. mark — a trace
  11. suit — clothes
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bank — for money
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bank — for money
  19. stock — goods
  20. drill — the tool
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. suit — in cards
  23. drill — a practice
  24. bulb — of a plant

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