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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: safe · stock · dip · current · bass · nail · branch · pop

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pop — soda
  4. bass — the fish
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. dip — to sink
  12. branch — a division
  13. bass — low music
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. current — happening now
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. stock — shares
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. pop — music
  22. current — electric
  23. pop — to visit
  24. current — of water

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