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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. lie — to recline
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bulb — for light
  5. track — a path
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. key — in music
  10. bulb — for light
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. fall — to drop
  13. track — a song
  14. key — for a lock
  15. key — the most important part
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. fall — the season
  18. stem — to come from
  19. track — to keep track
  20. spell — letters
  21. spell — magic
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. fall — to drop

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