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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. wake — a trail
  3. current — of water
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. cue — a signal
  6. cue — for pool
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. current — happening now
  9. stock — shares
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. tube — a container
  12. stock — goods
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. field — a subject
  15. current — electric
  16. field — farmland
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. field — for sport
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. cue — a hint

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