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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: bulb · stock · season · mug · foot · wave · snap · mate

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. mate — to breed
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. stock — goods
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mug — a cup
  7. mug — a face
  8. foot — a measure
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. snap — to click
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. mate — a partner
  14. season — in sport
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. bulb — for light
  19. season — of the year
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. stock — shares
  23. mate — a friend
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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