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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: deal · stock · mouse · can · dip · pass · current · bay

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. current — of water
  3. dip — to sink
  4. deal — to handle
  5. current — electric
  6. can — a tin
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. pass — a permit
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. stock — shares
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. current — happening now
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. stock — goods
  24. can — to be able to

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