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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bank — for money
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. stem — to come from
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. bank — for money
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. bank — of a river
  15. rush — hurry
  16. deal — to handle
  17. wound — an injury
  18. date — the fruit
  19. foot — a measure
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. date — on the calendar

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