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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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. can — to be able to
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. craft — boats
  5. suit — clothes
  6. stock — shares
  7. can — a tin
  8. stock — goods
  9. current — electric
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. can — a tin
  14. suit — in cards
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. snap — to click
  19. suit — to fit
  20. current — happening now
  21. current — of water
  22. pass — a permit
  23. branch — a division
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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