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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 big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. tube — a container
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. key — in music
  9. wax — to grow
  10. tube — the underground
  11. key — the most important part
  12. stand — to bear
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. key — for a lock
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stem — to come from
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. mine — for digging

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