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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 · stem · mug · ball · rock · pass · bulb · bass

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. pass — a permit
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mug — to rob
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. bass — low music
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. ball — a dance
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. stock — goods
  16. stem — to come from
  17. stock — shares
  18. rock — music
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bulb — for light
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. ball — a great time
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. mug — a face

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