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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: can · ground · tube · cabinet · squash · stem · bay · chest

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. ground — the earth
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. chest — of your body
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. can — to be able to
  8. squash — the sport
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. stem — to come from
  11. chest — a box
  12. squash — to crush
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. chest — of your body
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. can — a tin
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. ground — crushed
  21. tube — the underground
  22. can — a tin
  23. tube — a container
  24. squash — the vegetable

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