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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stock — goods
  3. stock — shares
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bulb — for light
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. can — a tin
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. can — a tin
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. saw — the tool
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. racket — a loud noise

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