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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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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: pitcher · leaves · nail · stem · shower · bulb · plane · mate

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. shower — to wash
  3. bulb — for light
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bulb — for light
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mate — a partner
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. shower — rain
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. mate — to breed
  20. stem — to come from
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. plane — a tool
  23. mate — a friend
  24. plane — an aircraft

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