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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. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. staff — a stick
  5. bear — the animal
  6. board — a committee
  7. staff — employees
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. staff — employees
  12. bulb — for light
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. board — to get on
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. wax — to grow
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. stock — shares
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. bear — the animal

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