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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 120 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: sharp · lie · row · bulb · bank · mark · current · stock

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bank — for money
  3. mark — a grade
  4. stock — shares
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. mark — a trace
  7. row — to paddle
  8. current — of water
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. current — electric
  11. stock — goods
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. bulb — for light
  14. current — happening now
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — of a river
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. lie — to recline
  20. row — a line
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. sharp — clever

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