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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stand · prune · bulb · leaves · bowl · face · mine · hide

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. face — to point toward
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. prune — to trim
  6. bulb — for light
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. face — part of the head
  10. bulb — for light
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. mine — for digging
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. prune — to trim
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. stand — to bear
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. face — to confront
  24. bowl — a dish

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