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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. wind — moving air
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. stem — to come from
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. wind — moving air
  12. rush — hurry
  13. can — a tin
  14. key — in music
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. can — to be able to
  17. key — for a lock
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. can — a tin
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. key — the most important part
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. ruler — for measuring

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