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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 116 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: rash · suit · bay · rock · stock · coach · stand · current

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. rock — a stone
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. stock — goods
  7. rock — music
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. suit — clothes
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. stock — shares
  13. current — of water
  14. rash — a series
  15. current — happening now
  16. stand — to bear
  17. suit — to fit
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. current — electric
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. suit — in cards
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. rash — hasty

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