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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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. fall — to drop
  4. dip — to sink
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. tube — a container
  14. stem — to come from
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. tube — the underground
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. fall — to drop
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lie — to recline
  24. leaves — to go away

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