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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. fall — to drop
  3. plane — a tool
  4. can — to be able to
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. stock — shares
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. fall — to drop
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. current — happening now
  12. current — of water
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. drill — a practice
  16. pit — a hole
  17. pit — in a race
  18. can — a tin
  19. stock — goods
  20. fall — the season
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. drill — the tool
  23. can — a tin
  24. current — electric

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