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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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. scale — in music
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. board — a committee
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. stem — to come from
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. mark — a grade
  13. current — electric
  14. wax — to grow
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. scale — size or range
  17. mark — a trace
  18. squash — the sport
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. current — of water
  23. board — to get on
  24. current — happening now

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