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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. ground — the earth
  3. suit — clothes
  4. wound — an injury
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. rush — hurry
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. ground — crushed
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wake — a trail
  11. can — to be able to
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. can — a tin
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. ground — a position
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. fine — all right
  19. fine — high quality
  20. suit — to fit
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. suit — in cards
  23. can — a tin
  24. stem — to come from

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