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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. stem — to come from
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. file — a line of people
  6. charge — in control
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. charge — electricity
  11. key — for a lock
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. plane — a tool
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. file — a tool
  16. key — the most important part
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. file — a document
  23. key — in music
  24. trunk — of a tree

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