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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. board — a committee
  3. current — happening now
  4. bore — to tire
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. board — to get on
  7. stock — goods
  8. stem — to come from
  9. suit — in cards
  10. ground — a position
  11. suit — to fit
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. current — of water
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bore — to drill
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. current — electric
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. suit — clothes
  22. stock — shares
  23. ground — crushed
  24. nail — for a hammer

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