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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. branch — a division
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. rock — a stone
  6. bulb — for light
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. track — a path
  9. stock — shares
  10. bat — the animal
  11. ball — a great time
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. ball — a dance
  17. rock — music
  18. track — a song
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. track — to keep track
  24. stock — goods

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