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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. bulb — for light
  3. march — the month
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. bulb — for light
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. face — to point toward
  11. face — part of the head
  12. stock — goods
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. march — music
  16. toast — bread
  17. stock — shares
  18. board — to get on
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. face — to confront
  22. board — a committee
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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