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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
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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: bulb · mark · stock · mug · cap · deal · wave · mate

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. mug — a face
  4. deal — to handle
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bulb — for light
  7. mate — a friend
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mug — a cup
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. cap — of ice
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. mate — a partner
  16. stock — goods
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. stock — shares
  19. cap — a hat
  20. mug — to rob
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. mark — a trace
  23. mate — to breed
  24. bulb — of a plant

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