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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 120 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. key — in music
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. key — the most important part
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mate — a friend
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. mate — a partner
  15. lie — to recline
  16. stem — to come from
  17. rush — hurry
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. key — for a lock
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mate — to breed
  24. snap — to click

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