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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bank — of a river
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bank — for money
  7. stem — to come from
  8. lie — to recline
  9. mug — to rob
  10. rush — hurry
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. root — of a word
  14. mug — a cup
  15. bank — for money
  16. root — the cause
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. mug — a face
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. wax — to grow
  22. root — of a plant
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mark — a grade

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