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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. can — a tin
  7. object — to protest
  8. bulb — for light
  9. stock — shares
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. wind — moving air
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. stock — goods
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. object — an aim
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bulb — for light
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. wind — moving air
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bulb — of a plant

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