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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
468
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: net · jam · bass · stock · staff · bulb · scale · present

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. present — there
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. present — the time now
  5. bulb — for light
  6. present — a gift
  7. net — for catching
  8. staff — employees
  9. stock — goods
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bass — low music
  12. staff — a stick
  13. bass — the fish
  14. stock — shares
  15. scale — size or range
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. net — in sport
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. staff — employees
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. scale — in music
  24. net — after costs

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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