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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a great time
  4. present — there
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. can — a tin
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. present — the time now
  11. bass — low music
  12. can — to be able to
  13. bass — the fish
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. can — a tin
  16. rock — a stone
  17. stem — to come from
  18. rock — music
  19. content — the amount
  20. present — a gift
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. content — happy

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