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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. pop — music
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. stock — shares
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stock — goods
  7. deal — to handle
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. season — in sport
  10. snap — to click
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. bulb — for light
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bulb — for light
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. pop — to visit
  22. season — of the year
  23. board — a committee
  24. pop — soda

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