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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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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: fall · bulb · leaves · cue · prune · calf · lean · stem

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. lean — thin
  6. fall — to drop
  7. cue — for pool
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. cue — a signal
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bulb — for light
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. fall — to drop
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. prune — to trim
  16. lean — to bend
  17. bulb — for light
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. stem — to come from
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. cue — a hint
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. prune — to trim
  24. leaves — lets stay

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