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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 am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. current — electric
  4. stock — shares
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. board — to get on
  7. current — happening now
  8. net — in sport
  9. net — after costs
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. board — a committee
  14. current — of water
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. stock — goods
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. net — for catching

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