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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. stock — shares
  3. current — electric
  4. wound — an injury
  5. stock — goods
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bank — for money
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — to handle
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wound — an injury
  12. bank — for money
  13. bank — of a river
  14. row — a line
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. current — happening now
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. current — of water

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