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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fine — high quality
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. rash — hasty
  7. bass — low music
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. fine — all right
  16. bass — the fish
  17. rash — a series
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. lean — to bend
  20. stem — to come from
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. rush — hurry
  23. lean — thin
  24. stem — of a plant

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