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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. stem — to come from
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. wax — to grow
  6. suit — clothes
  7. rash — hasty
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. plane — a tool
  12. suit — to fit
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. suit — in cards
  19. wind — moving air
  20. foot — a measure
  21. wind — moving air
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. rash — a series

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