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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: stock · ruler · key · current · staff · nail · bowl · march

  1. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. key — in music
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. staff — employees
  7. current — electric
  8. stock — goods
  9. march — the month
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. stock — shares
  12. current — of water
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. key — the most important part
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. current — happening now
  17. staff — a stick
  18. march — music
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. staff — employees
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. ruler — for measuring

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