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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. saw — the tool
  3. current — electric
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. current — happening now
  6. stock — goods
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. mark — a grade
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. mine — for digging
  13. stock — shares
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. mark — a trace
  16. deal — to handle
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. saw — the tool
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. toast — bread
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. mine — belonging to me

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