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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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. root — of a word
  10. stem — to come from
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. bulb — for light
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. root — the cause
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. root — of a plant
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. hand — in cards
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. hand — help

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