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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: hide · mug · rock · pop · stock · bulb · face · fine

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. face — part of the head
  4. stock — goods
  5. bulb — for light
  6. face — to point toward
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. rock — music
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. fine — all right
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mug — a face
  14. pop — music
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. mug — a cup
  17. stock — shares
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. pop — soda
  20. fine — high quality
  21. rock — a stone
  22. pop — to visit
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. mug — to rob

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