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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. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. net — for catching
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. current — electric
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. net — in sport
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. current — of water
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. rush — hurry
  16. wake — a trail
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a great time
  19. current — happening now
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. net — after costs
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. bowl — a football final

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