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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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Word bank
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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. lean — to bend
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bound — obliged
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. fine — high quality
  12. lean — thin
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. fine — all right
  16. bound — tied together
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. stem — to come from
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. key — the most important part
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bound — certain

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