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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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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: bulb · suit · branch · trunk · bear · spring · cell · board

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. bulb — for light
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. board — to get on
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. spring — the season
  8. spring — of water
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. bear — the animal
  11. suit — to fit
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. board — a committee
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. branch — a division
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. cell — a phone
  20. bear — the animal
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. bulb — for light
  23. spring — a coil
  24. trunk — of a car

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