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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 120 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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. suit — clothes
  3. stock — shares
  4. key — the most important part
  5. stock — goods
  6. key — in music
  7. suit — in cards
  8. net — for catching
  9. current — happening now
  10. root — the cause
  11. root — of a word
  12. snap — to click
  13. root — of a plant
  14. net — in sport
  15. current — of water
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. bulb — for light
  20. current — electric
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. suit — to fit
  23. net — after costs
  24. key — for a lock

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