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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: current · drill · squash · jam · deal · rock · stock · safe

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. current — electric
  3. current — happening now
  4. rock — music
  5. current — of water
  6. rock — a stone
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. drill — a practice
  13. squash — the sport
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. stock — goods
  16. drill — the tool
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. stock — shares
  21. drill — army training
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. squash — to crush
  24. safe — out of danger

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