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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. file — a document
  3. fall — to drop
  4. press — newspapers
  5. key — in music
  6. press — a publisher
  7. press — to push
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. key — for a lock
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. file — a line of people
  14. stem — to come from
  15. file — a tool
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. key — the most important part
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. fall — the season
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. fall — to drop
  24. fan — to cool the air

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