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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 120 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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. root — of a plant
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. root — of a word
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. vault — a safe
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. root — the cause
  10. rock — a stone
  11. stem — to come from
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. stand — to bear
  17. rock — music
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cell — a phone
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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