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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. current — happening now
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. can — a tin
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. charge — a price
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. charge — in control
  9. charge — electricity
  10. stock — shares
  11. chip — for betting
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. chip — to eat
  17. wax — to grow
  18. can — to be able to
  19. stock — goods
  20. can — a tin
  21. current — of water
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. current — electric
  24. mark — to pay attention

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