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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. object — an aim
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. stem — to come from
  7. rash — a series
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. mark — a trace
  10. object — to protest
  11. object — a thing
  12. mate — a friend
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mark — a grade
  15. rash — hasty
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. mate — a partner
  22. mate — to breed
  23. bulb — for light
  24. nail — on a finger

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