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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.

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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: vault · bulb · pit · stock · mug · shower · press · sharp

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. 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. bulb — of a plant
  2. shower — to wash
  3. stock — goods
  4. press — a publisher
  5. mug — to rob
  6. press — newspapers
  7. press — to push
  8. pit — in a race
  9. mug — a face
  10. pit — a hole
  11. vault — a safe
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. shower — rain
  14. bulb — for light
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. mug — a cup
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. bulb — for light
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. sharp — clever
  23. stock — shares
  24. 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