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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. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. rest — what's left
  3. face — to point toward
  4. stand — to bear
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — obliged
  7. rest — what's left
  8. face — to confront
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — electric
  15. rest — a break
  16. current — of water
  17. bound — certain
  18. bass — low music
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bass — the fish
  23. face — part of the head
  24. bass — the instrument

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