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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. firm — steady
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. net — for catching
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. net — after costs
  10. net — in sport
  11. stem — to come from
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. foot — a measure
  14. spell — a short time
  15. roll — a list
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. spell — magic
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. roll — a cake
  22. spell — letters
  23. firm — a company
  24. cabinet — ministers

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