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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. mark — a trace
  3. current — of water
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. firm — steady
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. stock — goods
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. current — happening now
  11. deal — to handle
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. wound — an injury
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. firm — decided
  16. fine — all right
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. current — electric
  20. fine — high quality
  21. wound — an injury
  22. firm — a company
  23. mark — a grade
  24. stock — shares

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