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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. perch — the fish
  4. cue — a signal
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. pass — a permit
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. mug — a cup
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. mug — to rob
  13. tube — the underground
  14. stem — to come from
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. tube — a container
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mug — a face
  21. branch — a division
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cue — for pool

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