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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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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 · stick · ruler · pit · bark · toast · stock · drill

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. stock — shares
  6. drill — a practice
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. bark — to shout
  11. current — of water
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. stock — goods
  15. current — happening now
  16. pit — in a race
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. pit — a hole
  19. drill — the tool
  20. current — electric
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. drill — army training
  24. toast — bread

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