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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: squash · staff · bulb · deal · key · roll · stock · cell

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. roll — a list
  3. staff — a stick
  4. cell — a phone
  5. bulb — for light
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — for a lock
  8. deal — to handle
  9. staff — employees
  10. roll — a cake
  11. squash — to crush
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. stock — shares
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. staff — employees
  17. cell — in biology
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. key — in music
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. squash — the sport

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