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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: safe · band · bat · bulb · swing · stem · can · calf

  1. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bulb — for light
  7. swing — music
  8. bulb — for light
  9. can — a tin
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. bat — in an idiom
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. swing — to play on
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. band — a ring
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. swing — in golf
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. stem — to come from
  24. band — a music group

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