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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.

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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: stem · bulb · wave · firm · file · rest · bore · lie

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. file — a document
  3. file — a tool
  4. bulb — for light
  5. lie — to recline
  6. file — a line of people
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. firm — steady
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. bore — to tire
  15. firm — decided
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. stem — to come from
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bore — to drill
  23. firm — a company
  24. rest — a break

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