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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 120 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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. bound — obliged
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. bound — tied together
  10. net — for catching
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. perch — the fish
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. net — in sport
  15. stem — to come from
  16. bound — certain
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. deal — to handle
  20. net — after costs
  21. foot — a measure
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. wax — to grow

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