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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. mark — a grade
  6. spring — the season
  7. spell — a short time
  8. lean — thin
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. season — in sport
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. stem — to come from
  13. mark — a trace
  14. lean — to bend
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. season — of the year
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. spell — letters
  22. spell — magic
  23. spring — a coil
  24. spring — of water

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