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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rest · stock · root · scale · fan · bulb

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. root — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rest — what's left
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. stock — shares
  9. scale — size or range
  10. root — of a word
  11. root — the cause
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. scale — in music
  15. rest — a break
  16. stock — goods
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. stock — a soup base

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