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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 ________________ market has crashed.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pop — music
  4. cue — a signal
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. can — a tin
  7. bulb — for light
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. fall — to drop
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. cue — a hint
  12. fall — the season
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. cue — for pool
  15. bulb — for light
  16. stock — goods
  17. can — a tin
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. pop — to visit
  22. pop — soda
  23. fall — to drop
  24. can — to be able to

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