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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. mate — a friend
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. chip — for betting
  7. chip — to eat
  8. current — of water
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. stem — to come from
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. mate — a partner
  16. stand — to bear
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. current — electric
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a face
  21. mate — to breed
  22. current — happening now
  23. mug — a cup
  24. stand — for spectators

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