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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 116 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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. suit — to fit
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. stem — to come from
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. current — electric
  10. suit — clothes
  11. current — of water
  12. deal — to handle
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. suit — in cards
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bound — certain
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. current — happening now
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — tied together
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. leaves — to go away

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