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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. mug — to rob
  5. can — to be able to
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. spell — magic
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. mug — a face
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mug — a cup
  13. stem — to come from
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. can — a tin
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mark — a grade
  18. can — a tin
  19. spell — a short time
  20. game — wild animals
  21. mark — a trace
  22. game — a match
  23. spell — letters
  24. mark — to pay attention

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