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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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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: saw · lash · stand · nail · can · branch · capital · bulb

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. bulb — for light
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. capital — a city
  12. capital — money
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. can — a tin
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. capital — a big letter
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. saw — the tool
  22. branch — a division
  23. stand — to bear
  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