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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. stem — to come from
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. swing — music
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. swing — to play on
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. stand — to bear
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. wax — to grow
  21. swing — in golf
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. mouse — for a computer

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