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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · craft · pitch · mouse · wax · patient · mark · stock

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. craft — a skill
  4. wax — to grow
  5. bulb — for light
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. pitch — completely
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. craft — boats
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. stock — goods
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. mark — a grade
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. stock — shares
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. mark — a trace
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. mark — to pay attention

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