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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. current — happening now
  3. object — an aim
  4. stock — shares
  5. stock — goods
  6. can — a tin
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. ground — a position
  9. object — to protest
  10. track — to keep track
  11. ground — crushed
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. current — electric
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. track — a song
  17. lie — to recline
  18. can — a tin
  19. current — of water
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. object — a thing
  22. track — a path
  23. ground — the earth
  24. can — to be able to

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