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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. shower — to wash
  4. shower — rain
  5. stock — shares
  6. bound — tied together
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. fine — high quality
  9. mug — to rob
  10. current — of water
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. bound — certain
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. content — the amount
  17. content — happy
  18. mug — a cup
  19. current — electric
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. bound — obliged
  22. current — happening now
  23. stock — goods
  24. fine — all right

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