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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: leaves · bulb · rock · wind · lash · bay · field · stem

  1. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. bulb — for light
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rock — music
  7. stem — to come from
  8. field — a subject
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. wind — moving air
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. wind — moving air
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. field — farmland
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bulb — for light
  24. field — for sport

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