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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. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. foot — a measure
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. board — a committee
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. bear — the animal
  9. stem — to come from
  10. wind — moving air
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. bank — for money
  15. bear — the animal
  16. dip — to sink
  17. bank — for money
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. board — to get on
  21. bank — of a river
  22. wind — moving air
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. bear — to put up with

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