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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. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. stem — to come from
  3. bank — of a river
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. content — the amount
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. wax — to grow
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. bank — for money
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. vault — a safe
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — obliged
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bank — for money
  23. bound — certain
  24. content — happy

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