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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 120 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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. suit — in cards
  5. bank — for money
  6. suit — to fit
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — music
  9. stem — to come from
  10. shower — rain
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. bank — of a river
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. bank — for money
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. suit — clothes
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. shower — to wash
  22. fine — high quality
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. fine — all right

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