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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. wound — an injury
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. scale — in music
  6. wound — an injury
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. scale — size or range
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. season — of the year
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. land — to come down
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. land — a country
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. land — ground
  23. stem — to come from
  24. season — in sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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