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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. plane — a tool
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. rest — what's left
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. stem — to come from
  23. rest — a break
  24. nail — for a hammer

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