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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 light ________________ burned out.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. roll — a list
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. bulb — for light
  10. rock — a stone
  11. stock — shares
  12. toast — bread
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. rock — music
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. suit — to fit
  17. saw — the tool
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. suit — in cards
  20. stock — goods
  21. roll — a cake
  22. suit — clothes
  23. saw — the tool
  24. roll — on a roll

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