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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 120 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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. stock — shares
  3. bulb — for light
  4. board — to get on
  5. bulb — for light
  6. scale — size or range
  7. scale — in music
  8. stock — goods
  9. bank — of a river
  10. ball — a great time
  11. court — of law
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. court — of a king
  15. court — for sport
  16. board — a committee
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. bank — for money
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. ball — a dance
  23. bank — for money
  24. mug — a face

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