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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 116 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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bound — certain
  11. squash — the sport
  12. bulb — for light
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stock — goods
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. stock — shares
  20. stem — to come from
  21. bass — low music
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. squash — to crush
  24. stand — to bear

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