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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: deal · perch · stock · wound · nail · leaves · current · ruler

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. stock — shares
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. current — happening now
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. current — electric
  12. stock — goods
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wound — an injury
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. perch — the fish
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. deal — to handle
  23. current — of water
  24. deal — an agreement

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