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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. stock — goods
  3. date — the fruit
  4. bass — low music
  5. current — electric
  6. last — finally
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. last — to go on
  9. last — final
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bear — the animal
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bass — the fish
  16. rock — music
  17. current — happening now
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. stock — shares
  20. bear — the animal
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. fork — in a road
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. current — of water

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