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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. stem — to come from
  4. key — in music
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. suit — to fit
  11. chair — a leader
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. rock — a stone
  18. suit — in cards
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. suit — clothes
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. rock — music
  24. mouse — the animal

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