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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. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. drill — the tool
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. stock — shares
  5. suit — to fit
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. suit — clothes
  10. suit — in cards
  11. drill — a practice
  12. scale — in music
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. drill — army training
  15. fork — in a road
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. scale — size or range
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. bound — certain
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. stock — goods

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