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

Word bank: stock · suit · object · safe · bulb · pit · lean · scale

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bulb — for light
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. stock — goods
  7. suit — clothes
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. stock — shares
  10. lean — to bend
  11. scale — size or range
  12. lean — thin
  13. bulb — for light
  14. suit — in cards
  15. object — a thing
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. suit — to fit
  19. pit — a hole
  20. scale — in music
  21. object — to protest
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. pit — in a race

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