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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. bulb — for light
  3. field — for sport
  4. bulb — for light
  5. field — a subject
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. field — farmland
  11. bound — certain
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bass — low music
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. fine — all right
  18. bound — tied together
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bass — the fish
  22. fine — high quality
  23. saw — the tool
  24. stem — to come from

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