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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 light ________________ burned out.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. current — of water
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stock — goods
  6. bulb — for light
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rush — hurry
  10. stock — shares
  11. current — happening now
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. swing — music
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. swing — to play on
  18. current — electric
  19. swing — in golf
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. calf — a young animal

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