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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 116 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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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. bulb — for light
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. suit — in cards
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. spring — of water
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. spring — the season
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. suit — clothes
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bulb — for light
  14. spring — a coil
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. suit — to fit
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. prune — to trim
  20. wax — to grow
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. pass — a permit
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. hide — animal skin

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