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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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. ball — a great time
  3. bulb — for light
  4. fine — all right
  5. cue — for pool
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. current — happening now
  8. cue — a hint
  9. current — electric
  10. stock — goods
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. cue — a signal
  13. ball — a dance
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. fine — high quality
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. current — of water
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. stock — shares

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