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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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. stock — shares
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rash — a series
  6. can — a tin
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. charge — electricity
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. can — to be able to
  14. bulb — for light
  15. can — a tin
  16. charge — a price
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. bulb — for light
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. charge — in control

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