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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 · stock · wax · ruler · mate · track · date · pitcher

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. stock — shares
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. mate — a partner
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. mate — a friend
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. current — of water
  10. current — happening now
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. current — electric
  13. mate — to breed
  14. track — a path
  15. stock — goods
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. wax — to grow
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. track — to keep track
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. date — the fruit
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. track — a song

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