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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. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a great time
  5. content — the amount
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. content — happy
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — to bear
  19. bear — the animal
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bear — the animal
  23. rock — music
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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