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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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bulb — for light
  9. suit — to fit
  10. stock — shares
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. suit — clothes
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stock — goods
  19. perch — the fish
  20. bulb — for light
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. mark — a trace

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