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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 116 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mate — to breed
  4. prune — to trim
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. fine — high quality
  9. fine — all right
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. drill — army training
  13. mate — a partner
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. prune — to trim
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. drill — a practice
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. bark — to shout
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. drill — the tool
  23. stem — to come from
  24. mate — a friend

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