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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: bass · swing · saw · stock · object · vault · cell · bulb

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He was locked up in a ________________.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  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 — for light
  2. object — an aim
  3. bulb — for light
  4. saw — the tool
  5. stock — shares
  6. stock — goods
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. swing — music
  9. bass — the fish
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. cell — in biology
  12. bass — low music
  13. saw — the tool
  14. cell — in a prison
  15. vault — a safe
  16. object — a thing
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. object — to protest
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. swing — in golf
  22. cell — a phone
  23. swing — to play on
  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