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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: bass · row · last · tube · pop · stock · bulb · mug

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. pop — to visit
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a face
  9. tube — a container
  10. tube — the underground
  11. bass — low music
  12. last — finally
  13. mug — a cup
  14. bass — the fish
  15. last — final
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stock — goods
  18. stock — shares
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bulb — for light
  21. last — to go on
  22. row — a line
  23. pop — soda
  24. pop — music

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