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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. fine — high quality
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. stand — to bear
  8. rush — hurry
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. current — of water
  12. game — wild animals
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. stem — to come from
  16. game — a match
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. fine — all right
  20. craft — boats
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. current — electric
  23. craft — a skill
  24. stem — a stem cell

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