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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  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. deal — an agreement
  2. key — for a lock
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. pound — a weight
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. stock — shares
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. deal — to handle
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. key — the most important part
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. current — of water
  18. current — electric
  19. date — the fruit
  20. current — happening now
  21. lie — to recline
  22. key — in music
  23. date — on the calendar
  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