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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 116 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: nail · stock · row · content · mouse · rest · current · bear

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. content — the amount
  3. rest — what's left
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. current — of water
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. row — to paddle
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. row — a line
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bear — the animal
  15. current — electric
  16. stock — shares
  17. current — happening now
  18. rest — a break
  19. stock — goods
  20. rest — what's left
  21. content — happy
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. nail — on a finger

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