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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. current — of water
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. stock — shares
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — electric
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. mug — a cup
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. pitch — completely
  15. stock — goods
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mug — to rob

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