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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: dip · stock · swing · rush · ball · saw · bulb · suit

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. saw — the tool
  3. ball — a dance
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. dip — to sink
  7. swing — music
  8. swing — in golf
  9. swing — to play on
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. rush — hurry
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. suit — clothes
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — for light
  18. suit — to fit
  19. stock — shares
  20. stock — goods
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rush — to hurry

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