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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. current — happening now
  5. fine — all right
  6. current — electric
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. toast — bread
  9. capital — money
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. pitch — completely
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. cue — for pool
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. cue — a signal
  17. capital — a big letter
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. fine — high quality
  20. cue — a hint
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. current — of water
  23. capital — a city
  24. stem — to come from

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