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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. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. field — farmland
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. cue — for pool
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. stem — to come from
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. stock — shares
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. object — a thing
  12. cue — a hint
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. field — for sport
  15. object — an aim
  16. object — to protest
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. bound — tied together
  19. cue — a signal
  20. field — a subject
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — certain
  24. stock — goods

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