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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. lie — to recline
  3. stem — to come from
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. track — a path
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. track — to keep track
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. plane — a tool
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. key — the most important part
  17. kick — in football
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — in music
  22. track — a song
  23. sharp — clever
  24. sharp — exactly

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