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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. craft — a skill
  3. stand — to bear
  4. stock — shares
  5. craft — boats
  6. pass — a permit
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. net — in sport
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. net — after costs
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. current — happening now
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. stock — goods
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. net — for catching
  20. current — of water
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. current — electric
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. pass — to spend time

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