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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 120 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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. squash — the sport
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. charge — a price
  6. bulb — for light
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. charge — electricity
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. squash — to crush
  12. tear — from crying
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. bulb — for light
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. charge — in control
  19. tear — to rip
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. tear — from crying
  22. stem — to come from
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. dip — to sink

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