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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. tube — the underground
  6. stock — shares
  7. staff — employees
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. tube — a container
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. bulb — for light
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. rock — a stone
  14. board — a committee
  15. mark — a trace
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. stock — goods
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. rock — music
  21. mark — a grade
  22. staff — employees
  23. staff — a stick
  24. board — to get on

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