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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. ball — a great time
  4. charge — a price
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. stock — shares
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. charge — in control
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stock — goods
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. charge — electricity
  19. mark — a trace
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. ball — a dance
  24. stock — a soup base

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