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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: pop · chair · current · fan · stock · pit · ball · toast

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. current — electric
  3. pop — soda
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. pit — a hole
  7. ball — a dance
  8. current — of water
  9. stock — goods
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. pop — music
  12. pop — to visit
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. current — happening now
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. toast — bread
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. ball — a great time
  19. pit — in a race
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. chair — a leader
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. stock — shares

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