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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. current — happening now
  3. bulb — for light
  4. current — electric
  5. ground — a position
  6. bass — low music
  7. snap — to click
  8. can — a tin
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. ground — the earth
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. current — of water
  13. rest — a break
  14. bulb — for light
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. stem — to come from
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bass — the fish
  22. rest — what's left
  23. ground — crushed
  24. rest — what's left

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