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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. stock — goods
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. can — a tin
  5. lean — to bend
  6. cue — a signal
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. mug — a face
  9. cue — for pool
  10. lean — thin
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mug — a cup
  14. chest — a box
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. foot — a measure
  17. chest — of your body
  18. cue — a hint
  19. current — of water
  20. current — electric
  21. can — to be able to
  22. current — happening now
  23. stock — shares
  24. chest — of your body

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