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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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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: coach · nail · stock · current · key · racket · shower · fine

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. key — in music
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. current — electric
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. shower — rain
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. current — happening now
  11. fine — high quality
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. key — for a lock
  16. stock — goods
  17. key — the most important part
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. shower — to wash
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. current — of water
  24. fine — all right

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