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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: stock · march · fan · staff · leaves · bulb · object · present

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. object — to protest
  3. march — the month
  4. stock — goods
  5. present — the time now
  6. bulb — for light
  7. present — a gift
  8. march — music
  9. staff — a stick
  10. present — there
  11. march — the month
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. object — a thing
  14. staff — employees
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. staff — employees
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. stock — shares
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. bulb — for light
  24. fan — to cool the air

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