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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. net — in sport
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. club — for dancing
  5. club — a group
  6. bulb — for light
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stock — shares
  9. drill — the tool
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. club — for golf
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. net — after costs
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. bulb — for light
  16. stock — goods
  17. drill — army training
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. net — for catching
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. wake — a trail
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. drill — a practice
  24. season — of the year

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