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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. bank — of a river
  4. stem — to come from
  5. cap — of ice
  6. cap — a lid
  7. rest — what's left
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bank — for money
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. deal — to handle
  12. net — for catching
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. bank — for money
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. rest — a break
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. net — in sport
  23. net — after costs
  24. cap — a hat

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