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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. root — the cause
  4. charge — electricity
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. stock — shares
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. pop — soda
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. stock — goods
  11. charge — in control
  12. root — of a plant
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. root — of a word
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bulb — for light
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. bulb — for light
  23. charge — a price
  24. pop — music

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