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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. charge — electricity
  3. tube — the underground
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. charge — in control
  8. stem — to come from
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. root — the cause
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. hand — in cards
  14. charge — a price
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — music
  18. tube — a container
  19. hand — help
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. root — of a plant
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. root — of a word

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