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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: foot · wax · stem · hide · rush · cabinet · arm · bulb

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bulb — for light
  11. stem — to come from
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. rush — hurry
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. cabinet — ministers

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