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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: object · stock · present · wave · mug · bulb · track · jam

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. present — the time now
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. stock — shares
  6. object — an aim
  7. present — a gift
  8. mug — a cup
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. track — a path
  12. object — a thing
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. bulb — for light
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. track — to keep track
  19. present — there
  20. mug — to rob
  21. object — to protest
  22. track — a song
  23. stock — goods
  24. wave — with your hand

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