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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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. stem — to come from
  3. rest — a break
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. rest — what's left
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rest — what's left
  8. rush — hurry
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. squash — to crush
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. lie — to recline
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. branch — a division
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. squash — the sport
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. mouse — the animal

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