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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're on a ________________ here.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. current — electric
  3. stock — shares
  4. roll — a list
  5. rash — a series
  6. stock — goods
  7. track — a song
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. roll — a cake
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. track — to keep track
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. track — a path
  19. current — of water
  20. rash — hasty
  21. ball — a dance
  22. current — happening now
  23. ball — a great time
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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