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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. can — to be able to
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. bulb — for light
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. can — a tin
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. snap — to click
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. ball — a great time
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. stock — shares
  18. stock — goods
  19. bulb — for light
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. can — a tin
  22. tube — a container
  23. tube — the underground
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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