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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. rash — hasty
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. firm — decided
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. staff — employees
  9. last — to go on
  10. game — a match
  11. staff — employees
  12. staff — a stick
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. rash — a series
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. last — finally
  17. firm — steady
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. stem — to come from
  20. last — final
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. game — wild animals
  24. firm — a company

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