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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. face — to confront
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. scale — size or range
  5. scale — in music
  6. mug — a face
  7. root — the cause
  8. root — of a plant
  9. stock — shares
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. root — of a word
  14. toast — bread
  15. stock — goods
  16. mug — a cup
  17. face — to point toward
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. bulb — for light
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. face — part of the head
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. mug — to rob

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