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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 116 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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  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. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. fine — high quality
  3. bore — to drill
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. bound — certain
  7. bore — to tire
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. mark — a grade
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. stem — to come from
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. fine — all right
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bound — obliged
  20. wound — an injury
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. bound — tied together
  23. mark — a trace
  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