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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: last · face · stock · rash · cap · safe · chip · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. current — electric
  4. face — to confront
  5. face — part of the head
  6. last — finally
  7. stock — shares
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. last — to go on
  10. stock — goods
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. face — to point toward
  14. chip — to eat
  15. cap — a hat
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. last — final
  18. chip — for betting
  19. current — of water
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. rash — hasty
  22. cap — a lid
  23. rash — a series
  24. cap — of ice

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