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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
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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: mark · stand · shower · bay · straw · racket · current · stock

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. mark — a grade
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. shower — rain
  8. current — electric
  9. stand — to bear
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. shower — to wash
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. stock — goods
  16. current — of water
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. current — happening now
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. stock — shares
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. stock — a soup base

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