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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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Word bank
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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. can — a tin
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. can — to be able to
  8. board — to get on
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bulb — for light
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. stock — goods
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. foot — a measure
  18. bulb — for light
  19. stock — shares
  20. bass — the fish
  21. board — a committee
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. bass — low music

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