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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bulb — for light
  6. cue — for pool
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. stand — to bear
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bulb — for light
  12. sharp — clever
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. kick — in football
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. stem — to come from
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. cue — a signal
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. stand — on your feet

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