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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 surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. squash — to crush
  3. cue — for pool
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. current — happening now
  6. mate — a partner
  7. current — electric
  8. squash — the sport
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. cue — a signal
  11. stock — shares
  12. mate — to breed
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. mate — a friend
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. stock — goods
  20. current — of water
  21. dip — to sink
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. cue — a hint
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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