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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: stem · hide · lash · bulb · fan · present · board · wax

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bulb — for light
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. present — the time now
  6. board — to get on
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. board — a committee
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. stem — to come from
  12. present — there
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. wax — to grow
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. present — a gift
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. hide — to keep secret

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