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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. current — happening now
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. root — the cause
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. root — of a word
  10. root — of a plant
  11. mine — for digging
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. current — electric
  16. dip — to sink
  17. stem — to come from
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. current — of water
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. safe — a strongbox

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