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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 have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. stock — shares
  5. bulb — for light
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. ball — a great time
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. charge — electricity
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. ball — a dance
  15. prune — to trim
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. stock — goods
  18. charge — in control
  19. charge — a price
  20. foot — a measure
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bowl — a dish

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