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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. file — a tool
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. file — a line of people
  7. bound — obliged
  8. scale — in music
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bound — certain
  11. saw — the tool
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. scale — size or range
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bore — to drill
  17. bulb — for light
  18. file — a document
  19. saw — the tool
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bore — to tire
  24. stem — to come from

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