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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 124 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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. bank — for money
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. current — of water
  5. bore — to tire
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. current — electric
  8. bank — for money
  9. mug — a cup
  10. bank — of a river
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. mug — a face
  14. stem — to come from
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. current — happening now
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bore — to drill
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. mug — to rob
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. lean — to bend
  23. lean — thin
  24. calf — a young 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