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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. wake — a trail
  3. current — happening now
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. bulb — for light
  8. stock — shares
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. pit — a hole
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. current — electric
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. firm — a company
  19. stock — goods
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. firm — steady
  22. perch — the fish
  23. pit — in a race
  24. current — of water

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