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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. stem — to come from
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. lean — thin
  5. scale — size or range
  6. pit — in a race
  7. scale — in music
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. pit — a hole
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. lean — to bend
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a grade
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lash — an eyelash

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