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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. lean — to bend
  3. season — in sport
  4. cue — a signal
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. staff — a stick
  7. staff — employees
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. date — the fruit
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. cue — for pool
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. deal — to handle
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. cue — a hint
  16. season — of the year
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. staff — employees
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. lean — thin
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. stem — to come from

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