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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. chip — for betting
  3. fine — high quality
  4. cap — a hat
  5. track — a path
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. net — after costs
  8. chip — to eat
  9. rock — a stone
  10. cap — of ice
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — all right
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. track — to keep track
  19. track — a song
  20. net — for catching
  21. rock — music
  22. net — in sport
  23. stem — to come from
  24. cap — a lid

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