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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 116 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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. plane — a tool
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. bass — the fish
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. row — to paddle
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. bass — low music
  14. season — in sport
  15. bank — of a river
  16. season — of the year
  17. bank — for money
  18. dip — to sink
  19. stem — to come from
  20. mug — a face
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — to rob
  24. bank — for money

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