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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.

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: cabinet · bulb · can · bear · hide · stem · fan · racket

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. can — a tin
  3. bear — the animal
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bear — the animal
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. can — a tin
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. stem — to come from
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bulb — for light

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