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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. charge — a price
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. bear — the animal
  7. last — finally
  8. game — wild animals
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. game — a match
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. foot — a measure
  17. last — final
  18. charge — electricity
  19. stem — to come from
  20. bear — the animal
  21. rock — a stone
  22. lie — to recline
  23. last — to go on
  24. foot — part of the body

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