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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. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. mug — a face
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. chest — of your body
  5. suit — clothes
  6. bore — to drill
  7. suit — to fit
  8. mug — to rob
  9. chest — a box
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. stem — to come from
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bore — to tire
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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