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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: suit · season · stock · fan · bound · plane · sharp · bulb

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. stock — shares
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. season — in sport
  6. bulb — for light
  7. season — of the year
  8. sharp — clever
  9. bound — tied together
  10. suit — to fit
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — a tool
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. bound — certain
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stock — goods
  19. suit — clothes
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bound — obliged
  24. sharp — with an edge

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