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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. stem — to come from
  4. cap — of ice
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. club — for golf
  9. root — the cause
  10. toast — bread
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. cap — a lid
  13. foot — a measure
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. ground — crushed
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. cap — a hat
  18. ground — the earth
  19. club — for dancing
  20. ground — a position
  21. root — of a plant
  22. club — a group
  23. root — of a word
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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