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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. current — of water
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. game — wild animals
  7. can — a tin
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. current — happening now
  10. branch — a division
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. can — to be able to
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. pitch — completely
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — a tin
  18. current — electric
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. game — a match
  22. stem — to come from
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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