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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. 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. staff — employees
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. staff — employees
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. toast — bread
  8. stock — shares
  9. snap — to click
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. current — electric
  12. current — happening now
  13. mark — a trace
  14. staff — a stick
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. current — of water
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a grade
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. 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