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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. bear — the animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. wound — an injury
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. bulb — for light
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. wound — an injury

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