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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. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. current — happening now
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. pitch — completely
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. rock — a stone
  11. stock — shares
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. current — of water
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. wax — to grow
  18. deal — to handle
  19. current — electric
  20. rock — music
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. rock — to move gently

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