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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: bulb · capital · lie · jam · straw · suit · stand · perch

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. capital — a big letter
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. capital — a city
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. suit — clothes
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. bulb — for light
  14. suit — in cards
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. suit — to fit
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. capital — money
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. lie — to recline
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. perch — the fish

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