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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. current — electric
  4. pop — to visit
  5. current — of water
  6. squash — the sport
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rash — a series
  10. suit — to fit
  11. stock — shares
  12. rule — a law
  13. pop — music
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. current — happening now
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. suit — in cards
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. stock — goods
  21. suit — clothes
  22. pop — soda
  23. rule — government
  24. squash — to crush

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