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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 120 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: kick · prune · bound · stem · pitcher · bay · coach · bulb

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. bound — obliged
  4. prune — to trim
  5. bound — certain
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. stem — to come from
  10. bound — tied together
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. prune — to trim
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. kick — in football
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  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