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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
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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: bulb · rest · cue · bear · lie · trunk · march · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. rest — what's left
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. lie — to recline
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a signal
  9. rest — a break
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. can — to be able to
  12. march — the month
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bear — the animal
  19. march — the month
  20. bulb — for light
  21. can — a tin
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. march — music
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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