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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. net — in sport
  4. stem — to come from
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. cue — a signal
  7. net — for catching
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. lean — thin
  10. cue — a hint
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. net — after costs
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. cue — for pool
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. deal — to handle
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. lean — to bend
  24. deal — an agreement

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