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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stock — goods
  4. net — in sport
  5. net — for catching
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. stand — to bear
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. bulb — for light
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. mug — a face
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. prune — to trim
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. net — after costs
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. stock — shares
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — to rob
  24. lash — to lash out

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