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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 120 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 big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. ball — a great time
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. deal — to handle
  6. stem — to come from
  7. can — a tin
  8. mug — a cup
  9. ball — a dance
  10. pop — soda
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. can — a tin
  14. staff — employees
  15. plane — a tool
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. can — to be able to
  18. mug — to rob
  19. staff — employees
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. staff — a stick
  22. pop — to visit
  23. pop — music
  24. mug — a face

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