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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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. squash — to crush
  3. tube — a container
  4. drill — the tool
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. tube — the underground
  7. drill — a practice
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. fine — all right
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. rash — a series
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. drill — army training
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rash — hasty
  17. deal — to handle
  18. squash — the sport
  19. fine — high quality
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. stem — to come from

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