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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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. bass — low music
  5. squash — the sport
  6. mate — a partner
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. spell — magic
  9. mate — to breed
  10. bass — the fish
  11. pass — a permit
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. mate — a friend
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. spell — a short time
  17. spell — letters
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. squash — to crush
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. stem — to come from
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. arm — 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