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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 120 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 · rock · spring · perch · bowl · deal · key · bulb

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. spring — a coil
  3. rock — a stone
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. spring — of water
  7. deal — to handle
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. perch — the fish
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. stock — goods
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. key — for a lock
  18. spring — the season
  19. key — the most important part
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bulb — for light
  23. key — in music
  24. stock — shares

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