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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. mate — a friend
  3. bound — tied together
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. current — electric
  6. mate — to breed
  7. stem — to come from
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. current — happening now
  11. bound — certain
  12. current — of water
  13. drill — army training
  14. mate — a partner
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bound — obliged
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mine — for digging
  20. drill — the tool
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — clothes
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. drill — a practice

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