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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. cap — a lid
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. firm — a company
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. cap — a hat
  11. ball — a great time
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. dip — to sink
  14. row — a line
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. firm — steady
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. row — to paddle
  22. ball — a dance
  23. cap — of ice
  24. row — a quarrel

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