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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. drill — a practice
  4. foot — a measure
  5. drill — army training
  6. cell — in biology
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. stem — to come from
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — a face
  15. drill — the tool
  16. track — to keep track
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pass — a permit
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. track — a path
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mark — a grade
  23. track — a song
  24. cell — a phone

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