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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.

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: stem · perch · bulb · content · wound · board · cue · rock

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. bulb — for light
  3. rock — music
  4. perch — the fish
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. cue — a signal
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. wound — an injury
  9. stem — to come from
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. rock — a stone
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. wound — an injury
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. cue — for pool
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bulb — for light
  18. board — to get on
  19. content — happy
  20. content — the amount
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cue — a hint
  24. content — videos and posts

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