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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
468
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: bowl · mug · racket · cabinet · rash · bulb · track · stock

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. stock — shares
  3. bulb — for light
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mug — a face
  6. track — a song
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. mug — to rob
  10. stock — goods
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bulb — for light
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rash — a series
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. track — to keep track
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. rash — hasty
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. track — a path

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