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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. current — happening now
  3. fine — all right
  4. fall — the season
  5. can — a tin
  6. pop — to visit
  7. stock — goods
  8. pop — music
  9. fall — to drop
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. stock — shares
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. branch — a division
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. can — to be able to
  19. current — electric
  20. current — of water
  21. fine — high quality
  22. can — a tin
  23. pop — soda
  24. fall — to drop

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