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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. spell — a short time
  3. spell — letters
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. board — to get on
  6. drill — the tool
  7. board — a committee
  8. stem — to come from
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. drill — army training
  11. perch — the fish
  12. drill — a practice
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. land — to come down
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. spell — magic
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. mug — to rob
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. land — ground
  22. land — a country
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — a cup

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