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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 116 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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. rush — hurry
  3. current — happening now
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. stock — goods
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. wake — a trail
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. sharp — clever
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. current — electric
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. stock — shares
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — to bear
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. current — of water
  23. stand — for spectators
  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