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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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. ground — a position
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. stem — to come from
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. toast — bread
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. ground — crushed
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. ground — the earth
  15. stand — to bear
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. mine — for digging
  24. snap — to click

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