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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. pop — soda
  3. sharp — clever
  4. stock — goods
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. row — to paddle
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. pop — to visit
  10. bulb — for light
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. suit — to fit
  13. can — a tin
  14. bulb — for light
  15. can — a tin
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. can — to be able to
  18. stock — shares
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. row — a line
  22. suit — in cards
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. pop — music

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