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

Word bank: can · rock · stock · present · scale · safe · bulb · ball

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. rock — music
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bulb — for light
  6. ball — a dance
  7. present — the time now
  8. can — to be able to
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. stock — shares
  11. stock — goods
  12. rock — a stone
  13. can — a tin
  14. ball — a great time
  15. scale — size or range
  16. scale — in music
  17. present — there
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. present — a gift
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bulb — for light

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