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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. content — the amount
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. tube — the underground
  5. rest — what's left
  6. stock — goods
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. tube — a container
  9. stock — shares
  10. mark — a grade
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. current — electric
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. current — of water
  16. rest — a break
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. rest — what's left
  20. mark — a trace
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. current — happening now
  23. content — happy
  24. nail — on a finger

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