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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. rash — a series
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. pop — soda
  5. root — of a word
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. march — music
  9. pop — to visit
  10. rash — hasty
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. root — of a plant
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. stem — to come from
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. root — the cause
  18. lie — to recline
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. march — the month
  21. march — the month
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. pop — music
  24. lie — an untruth

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