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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 120 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 big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. can — a tin
  4. stem — to come from
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. ground — crushed
  7. stand — to bear
  8. can — to be able to
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. ground — the earth
  13. can — a tin
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. wax — to grow
  21. ground — a position
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bulb — for light

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