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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 116 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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. stand — to bear
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. ball — a dance
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. track — to keep track
  16. board — a committee
  17. board — to get on
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. ball — a great time
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. stem — to come from
  22. track — a path
  23. sharp — clever
  24. track — a song

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