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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 big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. spell — a short time
  4. wake — a trail
  5. rest — a break
  6. fine — high quality
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rest — what's left
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. rest — what's left
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. spell — magic
  18. spell — letters
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. toast — bread
  21. can — a tin
  22. fine — all right
  23. stem — to come from
  24. fine — a penalty

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