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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stock — goods
  4. pass — a permit
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. rock — a stone
  7. board — to get on
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. bulb — for light
  12. stock — shares
  13. ball — a dance
  14. squash — the sport
  15. squash — to crush
  16. club — a group
  17. club — for golf
  18. board — a committee
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. rock — music
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. club — for dancing
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. squash — the vegetable

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