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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: racket · stock · dip · temple · coach · bear · ball · current

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. stock — goods
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. dip — to sink
  7. current — electric
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. bear — the animal
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. stock — shares
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. current — happening now
  15. ball — a great time
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. current — of water
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. ball — a dance
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. dip — a sauce

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