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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: dip · mug · trunk · bulb · mate · rash · stock · wave

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. mate — to breed
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mug — a cup
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. mate — a friend
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mug — a face
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. dip — to sink
  17. rash — a series
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. rash — hasty
  20. stock — shares
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. bulb — for light
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. bulb — for light

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