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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. bore — to tire
  3. sharp — clever
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. suit — to fit
  7. suit — in cards
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. suit — clothes
  10. bore — to drill
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. bulb — for light
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. wound — an injury
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. wound — an injury
  24. stem — to come from

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