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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. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. stock — goods
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. mate — a partner
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mine — for digging
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. court — of a king
  15. court — of law
  16. mate — to breed
  17. pop — to visit
  18. court — for sport
  19. stock — shares
  20. can — a tin
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mate — a friend
  23. pop — music
  24. pop — soda

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