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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: mug · rest · perch · current · leaves · shower · stock · wake

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. perch — the fish
  3. rest — a break
  4. current — happening now
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. stock — shares
  7. shower — to wash
  8. stock — goods
  9. mug — to rob
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. shower — rain
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. current — electric
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. wake — a trail
  19. current — of water
  20. mug — a face
  21. rest — what's left
  22. rest — what's left
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. mug — a cup

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