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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  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. season — of the year
  2. can — a tin
  3. drill — a practice
  4. pitch — completely
  5. stock — goods
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. drill — the tool
  8. current — of water
  9. stock — shares
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. season — in sport
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. can — a tin
  14. current — electric
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. can — to be able to
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. current — happening now
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. jam — a tight spot
  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