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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 120 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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. object — a thing
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. can — to be able to
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. race — humankind
  7. race — a contest
  8. stem — to come from
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. object — to protest
  14. bulb — for light
  15. stand — to bear
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. object — an aim
  18. can — a tin
  19. foot — a measure
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. can — a tin
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. stem — of a plant

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