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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. lean — to bend
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. bound — obliged
  7. lean — thin
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. stem — to come from
  13. key — the most important part
  14. bound — certain
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — in music
  17. bound — tied together
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. leaves — lets stay

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