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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: leaves · hide · wake · jam · bulb · staff · scale · can

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. scale — size or range
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. staff — employees
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. staff — employees
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. bulb — for light
  16. wake — a trail
  17. bulb — for light
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. staff — a stick
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. can — a tin

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