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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 116 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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. rest — a break
  3. bound — obliged
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. squash — the sport
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. wound — an injury
  12. bound — certain
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. squash — to crush
  15. rest — what's left
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. stem — to come from
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. wound — an injury
  20. bound — tied together
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. pass — a permit
  23. rest — what's left
  24. pass — to spend time

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