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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. key — for a lock
  4. rock — a stone
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. present — there
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. stock — shares
  9. game — wild animals
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. present — the time now
  14. present — a gift
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. key — the most important part
  18. rock — music
  19. stock — goods
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. game — a match
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. hide — animal skin

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