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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: current · bay · snap · suit · lie · board · nail · stock

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. board — to get on
  3. stock — shares
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. suit — clothes
  9. stock — goods
  10. board — a committee
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. suit — to fit
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — of water
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. current — electric
  20. lie — to recline
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. suit — in cards
  24. snap — to click

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