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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. mug — to rob
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. band — a music group
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. mug — a cup
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. staff — employees
  12. lie — to recline
  13. staff — employees
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. band — a ring
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. mug — a face
  21. staff — a stick
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. stem — to come from

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