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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.

Make a worksheet

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: wave · prune · object · rock · plane · rest · bulb · season

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. prune — to trim
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. rest — a break
  6. season — of the year
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. rest — what's left
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. season — in sport
  12. plane — a tool
  13. bulb — for light
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. rock — music
  16. rock — a stone
  17. object — a thing
  18. rest — what's left
  19. prune — to trim
  20. object — to protest
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. object — an aim

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