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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. pop — soda
  3. stock — goods
  4. can — a tin
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. stock — shares
  7. pop — to visit
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. cue — a signal
  10. foot — a measure
  11. can — a tin
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. cue — for pool
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pop — music
  17. bulb — for light
  18. cue — a hint
  19. board — to get on
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. board — a committee
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. bulb — of a plant

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