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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: lean · rush · fine · stock · suit · charge · mouse · season

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. stock — shares
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. suit — to fit
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. charge — electricity
  8. lean — thin
  9. lean — to bend
  10. suit — clothes
  11. charge — a price
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — hurry
  14. season — of the year
  15. stock — goods
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. suit — in cards
  20. season — in sport
  21. charge — in control
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. fine — all right

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