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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: racket · fan · stock · spring · chip · rush · stand · wake

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. chip — to eat
  4. spring — a coil
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. wake — a trail
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. rush — hurry
  15. stock — shares
  16. stock — goods
  17. spring — of water
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. spring — the season
  23. stand — to bear
  24. chip — for betting

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