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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. firm — decided
  3. spring — the season
  4. firm — steady
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. stem — to come from
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. spring — a coil
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. foot — a measure
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. charge — electricity
  15. charge — a price
  16. spring — of water
  17. rule — government
  18. bulb — for light
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. charge — in control
  21. firm — a company
  22. bulb — for light
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — a place of worship

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