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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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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. current — happening now
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. deal — to handle
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. current — of water
  8. fine — high quality
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. fine — all right
  15. stock — shares
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. current — electric
  18. stock — goods

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