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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. mate — a friend
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. rock — music
  6. season — in sport
  7. mate — to breed
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. mark — a trace
  10. rock — a stone
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. mark — a grade
  17. mate — a partner
  18. game — wild animals
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. stem — to come from
  21. season — of the year
  22. game — a match
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. fan — a supporter

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