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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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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stem — to come from
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. field — for sport
  8. firm — steady
  9. suit — to fit
  10. firm — a company
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. field — a subject
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. suit — in cards
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. firm — decided
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. field — farmland
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bear — the animal
  24. wax — to grow

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