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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bear · firm · patient · foot · stock · racket · current · object

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. stock — shares
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bear — the animal
  11. foot — a measure
  12. firm — a company
  13. current — of water
  14. firm — steady
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. current — happening now
  17. object — a thing
  18. stock — goods
  19. firm — decided
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. object — to protest
  24. object — an aim

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