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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 · craft · season · stem · bass · perch · pass · lean

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. lean — thin
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. bass — the fish
  9. craft — boats
  10. lean — to bend
  11. season — in sport
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pass — a permit
  14. perch — the fish
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bass — low music
  17. stem — to come from
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. bulb — for light
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. craft — a skill

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