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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 116 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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. stock — goods
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. march — the month
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. pitch — completely
  7. bulb — for light
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. stock — shares
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. chip — to eat
  14. march — the month
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. stand — to bear
  18. perch — the fish
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. bulb — for light
  21. march — music
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. chip — for betting
  24. stand — for spectators

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