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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. current — electric
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. scale — in music
  9. current — happening now
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. chip — to eat
  14. chip — for betting
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. deal — to handle
  20. scale — size or range
  21. current — of water
  22. stock — shares
  23. stock — goods
  24. pass — a permit

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