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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 124 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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. wake — a trail
  3. mark — a trace
  4. hand — in cards
  5. present — there
  6. present — the time now
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. present — a gift
  10. charge — electricity
  11. hand — help
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. bound — certain
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. toast — bread
  17. mark — a grade
  18. charge — in control
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. stem — to come from
  21. bound — tied together
  22. charge — a price
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. wake — before a funeral

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