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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. march — the month
  4. bear — the animal
  5. march — the month
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. spell — magic
  8. stem — to come from
  9. cue — a signal
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. spell — letters
  14. march — music
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — the animal
  18. cue — for pool
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. row — to paddle
  23. cue — a hint
  24. row — a line

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