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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. mark — a trace
  3. key — the most important part
  4. current — electric
  5. current — of water
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. mark — a grade
  9. prune — to trim
  10. key — in music
  11. pit — in a race
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. current — happening now
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. key — for a lock
  17. pit — a hole
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. stem — to come from
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. prune — to trim
  24. temple — a place of worship

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