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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. lean — to bend
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. mark — a grade
  5. cue — a hint
  6. stock — shares
  7. current — electric
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. lean — thin
  11. rash — a series
  12. rash — hasty
  13. current — of water
  14. cue — for pool
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. current — happening now
  17. bear — the animal
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. cue — a signal
  22. stock — goods
  23. bear — the animal
  24. mark — to pay attention

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