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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 120 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 ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. bulb — for light
  4. stock — shares
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. stock — goods
  7. charge — electricity
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. rock — a stone
  10. charge — a price
  11. pop — to visit
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. pop — music
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rash — a series
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. rash — hasty
  21. pop — soda
  22. dip — to sink
  23. charge — in control
  24. rock — 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