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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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. firm — steady
  3. saw — the tool
  4. toast — bread
  5. firm — decided
  6. saw — the tool
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. swing — music
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. firm — a company
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. stem — to come from
  14. can — to be able to
  15. swing — in golf
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. swing — to play on
  18. scale — size or range
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. can — a tin
  22. lie — to recline
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. scale — in music

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