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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. cue — a hint
  5. rest — a break
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. current — of water
  8. rest — what's left
  9. current — electric
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. cue — for pool
  15. current — happening now
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. stem — to come from
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. rest — what's left
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. cue — a signal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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