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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: bulb · roll · racket · scale · perch · rush · stock · key

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. bulb — for light
  3. key — in music
  4. stock — shares
  5. stock — goods
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bulb — for light
  10. rush — hurry
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. scale — size or range
  19. scale — in music
  20. roll — a list
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. roll — a cake
  23. key — for a lock
  24. perch — the fish

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