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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. stand — to bear
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. mate — to breed
  7. mate — a partner
  8. board — a committee
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. mate — a friend
  14. board — to get on
  15. firm — a company
  16. firm — steady
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. hand — in cards
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. hand — help
  22. foot — a measure
  23. stem — to come from
  24. bulb — for light

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