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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 124 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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. mark — a grade
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. squash — the sport
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. suit — to fit
  11. cap — of ice
  12. suit — clothes
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. cap — a lid
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. cap — a hat
  18. branch — a division
  19. stem — to come from
  20. season — in sport
  21. mark — a trace
  22. wake — a trail
  23. suit — in cards
  24. season — of the year

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