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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. rash — a series
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rash — hasty
  8. stem — to come from
  9. rest — a break
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. season — in sport
  15. sharp — clever
  16. season — of the year
  17. rest — what's left
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. rest — what's left
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  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