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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 120 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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. current — electric
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. stock — shares
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. board — a committee
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. current — of water
  10. season — of the year
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bulb — for light
  14. dip — to sink
  15. season — in sport
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rush — hurry
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. current — happening now
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. stock — goods
  24. dip — a sauce

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