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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 116 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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. current — electric
  3. stock — shares
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. mark — a grade
  6. current — of water
  7. pit — a hole
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. current — happening now
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pit — in a race
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. bore — to drill
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lie — to recline
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. mark — a trace
  21. plane — a tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. stock — goods

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