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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. rest — what's left
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. current — of water
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mate — a partner
  9. rest — a break
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. mate — a friend
  12. mug — a face
  13. current — happening now
  14. mug — a cup
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. stock — goods
  17. stand — to bear
  18. perch — the fish
  19. stock — shares
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. current — electric
  23. mate — to breed
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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