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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. rock — a stone
  7. saw — the tool
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. mug — to rob
  10. wax — to grow
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. shower — rain
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. rock — music
  15. mug — a cup
  16. board — to get on
  17. stem — to come from
  18. mug — a face
  19. shower — to wash
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. board — a committee
  22. mark — a grade
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. mark — a trace

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