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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 120 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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. current — happening now
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. file — a document
  5. current — of water
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. suit — in cards
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. deal — to handle
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. suit — clothes
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. suit — to fit
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. stem — to come from
  18. file — a tool
  19. fine — all right
  20. file — a line of people
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. fine — high quality
  23. foot — a measure
  24. current — electric

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