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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mark — a grade
  4. ball — a great time
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. bulb — for light
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. stock — shares
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. stock — goods
  21. band — a music group
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. band — a ring

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