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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. fork — in a road
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. season — of the year
  8. stem — to come from
  9. lie — to recline
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. season — in sport
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. bank — of a river
  19. sharp — clever
  20. bank — for money
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. chair — a leader
  23. bank — for money
  24. chair — a professorship

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