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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. rock — a stone
  3. stock — goods
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. stock — shares
  7. rock — music
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. object — to protest
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. bound — tied together
  16. kick — in football
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. object — an aim
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. bound — certain
  24. trunk — of a tree

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