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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 120 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
468
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: fine · object · pitcher · squash · content · current · stock · pass

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. fine — all right
  7. squash — the sport
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. stock — shares
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. object — a thing
  12. object — to protest
  13. stock — goods
  14. current — of water
  15. squash — to crush
  16. current — happening now
  17. content — the amount
  18. pass — a permit
  19. object — an aim
  20. content — happy
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. current — electric
  23. fine — high quality
  24. pass — to succeed

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