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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bear — the animal
  4. object — a thing
  5. pop — soda
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. lie — to recline
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. object — an aim
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. stock — goods
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. bulb — for light
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stock — shares
  18. prune — to trim
  19. bear — the animal
  20. prune — to trim
  21. object — to protest
  22. suit — to fit
  23. pop — to visit
  24. suit — clothes

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