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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: cell · cue · stock · current · foot · mate · chip · lie

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. cue — for pool
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. chip — for betting
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. chip — to eat
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. cell — in biology
  9. cue — a hint
  10. foot — a measure
  11. cue — a signal
  12. stock — shares
  13. cell — a phone
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. current — electric
  17. mate — a partner
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. mate — to breed
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. lie — to recline
  22. mate — a friend
  23. stock — goods
  24. current — happening now

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