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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: current · stock · bass · lie · content · can · arm · mug

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mug — to rob
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. content — the amount
  7. mug — a cup
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bass — the fish
  10. mug — a face
  11. current — of water
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bass — low music
  15. content — happy
  16. can — to be able to
  17. stock — goods
  18. can — a tin
  19. stock — shares
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. current — electric
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. current — happening now
  24. can — a tin

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