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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  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. saw — past of 'see'
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. mug — a face
  4. saw — the tool
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. hand — in cards
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. mug — a cup
  9. row — to paddle
  10. can — a tin
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. row — a line
  13. can — to be able to
  14. mug — to rob
  15. rock — a stone
  16. content — the amount
  17. can — a tin
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. stem — to come from
  20. saw — the tool
  21. rock — music
  22. hand — help
  23. content — happy
  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