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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 need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. lean — thin
  5. saw — the tool
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. fine — high quality
  8. stem — to come from
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. spell — a short time
  11. spell — magic
  12. lean — to bend
  13. bass — the fish
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. spell — letters
  18. root — of a word
  19. snap — to click
  20. root — of a plant
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. bass — low music
  23. saw — the tool
  24. fine — all right

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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