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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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. current — electric
  5. board — a committee
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. net — in sport
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. current — of water
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. net — after costs
  17. stand — to bear
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. board — to get on
  21. net — for catching
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. stock — shares
  24. current — happening now

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