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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stand · mouse · pass · fine · bulb · scale · stem · bear

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. stem — to come from
  3. pass — a permit
  4. stand — to bear
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fine — high quality
  9. scale — in music
  10. bulb — for light
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. fine — all right
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bear — the animal
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. scale — size or range

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