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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. current — electric
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. stock — shares
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. key — the most important part
  8. current — happening now
  9. key — in music
  10. rest — a break
  11. rest — what's left
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pit — in a race
  16. pit — a hole
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. stock — goods
  22. rest — what's left
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. current — of water

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