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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 ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. stock — goods
  3. net — for catching
  4. bulb — for light
  5. file — a document
  6. key — the most important part
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. key — for a lock
  10. mark — a grade
  11. stock — shares
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. file — a tool
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rock — a stone
  16. file — a line of people
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. key — in music
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. stand — to bear
  21. net — after costs
  22. mark — a trace
  23. rock — music
  24. mark — to pay attention

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