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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.

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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: bark · board · stock · current · bulb · firm · kid · mug

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. stock — shares
  3. current — happening now
  4. mug — to rob
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. current — electric
  9. kid — to tease
  10. firm — a company
  11. stock — goods
  12. board — to get on
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. bulb — for light
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. board — a committee
  17. kid — child
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. firm — decided
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mug — a face
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. current — of water
  24. firm — steady

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