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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.

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: stem · mine · staff · safe · rock · bat · bulb · fall

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. bulb — for light
  3. fall — to drop
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. bat — the animal
  9. rock — a stone
  10. staff — employees
  11. rock — music
  12. fall — to drop
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — for light
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. stem — to come from
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. mine — for digging
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. fall — the season
  23. staff — employees
  24. mine — an explosive

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