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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: key · current · snap · can · stock · pit · rush · cell

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. current — happening now
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. snap — to click
  5. stock — goods
  6. rush — hurry
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. current — electric
  9. key — the most important part
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. cell — in biology
  15. cell — a phone
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. pit — a hole
  20. can — to be able to
  21. key — in music
  22. current — of water
  23. stock — shares
  24. pit — in a race

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