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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: scale · suit · ground · capital · wave · plane · stem · bulb

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. bulb — for light
  3. scale — in music
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. capital — money
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. ground — a position
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. ground — crushed
  15. scale — size or range
  16. capital — a city
  17. suit — clothes
  18. plane — a tool
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stem — to come from
  22. suit — in cards
  23. ground — the earth
  24. wave — with your hand

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