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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. mug — a cup
  3. rash — hasty
  4. stock — shares
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. current — electric
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. mate — a partner
  10. mate — a friend
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. current — of water
  13. cue — a hint
  14. mug — a face
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. cue — for pool
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. mug — to rob
  19. mate — to breed
  20. stock — goods
  21. current — happening now
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cue — a signal
  24. coach — a trainer

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