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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: key · bark · stock · stem · bulb · wave · spell · scale

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. scale — in music
  3. bark — to shout
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. stock — shares
  7. stock — goods
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. stem — to come from
  13. spell — a short time
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. key — in music
  16. scale — size or range
  17. spell — magic
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bulb — for light
  22. key — the most important part
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. wave — with your hand

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