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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. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. chip — to eat
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. fine — all right
  9. lie — to recline
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. plane — a tool
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. fine — high quality
  15. chip — for betting
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — a tin
  21. cap — of ice
  22. can — to be able to
  23. cap — a lid
  24. cap — a hat

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