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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. rest — a break
  5. toast — bread
  6. drill — a practice
  7. current — of water
  8. stock — shares
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. bulb — for light
  12. stock — goods
  13. drill — the tool
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. rest — what's left
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rest — what's left
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. current — electric
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. drill — army training

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