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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. current — happening now
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. stock — goods
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. bear — the animal
  8. cue — for pool
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — for light
  12. fine — all right
  13. fine — high quality
  14. mug — to rob
  15. cue — a signal
  16. mug — a cup
  17. cue — a hint
  18. stock — shares
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. current — of water
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. current — electric
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. bear — to put up with

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