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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: can · bulb · sharp · stick · ruler · hide · mine · stem

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. can — to be able to
  6. can — a tin
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. sharp — clever
  9. mine — for digging
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. stem — to come from
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. can — a tin
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bulb — for light
  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