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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: nail · ruler · can · stock · racket · foot · cabinet · bulb

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. stock — goods
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bulb — for light
  6. can — a tin
  7. bulb — for light
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. foot — a measure
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. can — a tin

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