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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. current — of water
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. stock — goods
  9. wound — an injury
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. wound — an injury
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. stock — shares
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. branch — a division
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. current — happening now
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. temple — a place of worship

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