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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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. current — happening now
  3. game — a match
  4. row — to paddle
  5. current — of water
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. stem — to come from
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. current — electric
  13. roll — a cake
  14. game — wild animals
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. row — a line
  22. roll — a list
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. lie — to recline

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