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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. stem — to come from
  4. cue — for pool
  5. track — a path
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. cell — in biology
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. cue — a signal
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. fine — high quality
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. pit — in a race
  17. cell — a phone
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. fine — all right
  21. track — to keep track
  22. track — a song
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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