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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. stock — shares
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. bulb — for light
  7. mug — to rob
  8. fine — high quality
  9. roll — a cake
  10. fine — all right
  11. roll — a list
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. mug — a face
  14. bank — for money
  15. bank — for money
  16. rash — a series
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. stock — goods
  19. rash — hasty
  20. mug — a cup
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bulb — for light
  23. squash — to crush
  24. squash — the sport

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