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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. scale — size or range
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. stem — to come from
  5. scale — in music
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. dip — to sink
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. can — a tin
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. can — a tin
  24. pitcher — a jug

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