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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. cue — a signal
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. suit — in cards
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. stem — to come from
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. row — to paddle
  12. season — in sport
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. row — a line
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. lie — to recline
  17. season — of the year
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. suit — clothes
  20. cue — a hint
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. suit — to fit

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