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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: pitcher · bore · face · dip · branch · rush · current · stock

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. current — happening now
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. face — to confront
  10. face — part of the head
  11. current — electric
  12. stock — goods
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. current — of water
  15. bore — to drill
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. dip — to sink
  18. bore — to tire
  19. face — to point toward
  20. stock — shares
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. branch — a division
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. rush — hurry

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