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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. staff — a stick
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bulb — for light
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. staff — employees
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. bulb — for light
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. stem — to come from
  17. staff — employees
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. wax — to grow
  24. pitcher — a jug

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