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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. current — electric
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. bear — the animal
  6. can — a tin
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. sharp — clever
  10. stock — shares
  11. current — of water
  12. bear — the animal
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. stock — goods
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. can — a tin
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rock — a stone
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. rock — music
  23. current — happening now
  24. sharp — with an edge

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