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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. rest — what's left
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. key — in music
  5. bulb — for light
  6. stem — to come from
  7. rest — a break
  8. staff — employees
  9. bulb — for light
  10. staff — a stick
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. staff — employees
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. mug — a cup
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. mug — a face
  19. key — the most important part
  20. wax — to grow
  21. game — wild animals
  22. rest — what's left
  23. key — for a lock
  24. game — a match

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