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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. court — for sport
  7. bulb — for light
  8. court — of a king
  9. mate — to breed
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. deal — to handle
  12. bulb — for light
  13. court — of law
  14. stem — to come from
  15. can — a tin
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. can — a tin
  20. mate — a partner
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. mate — a friend

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